"What Is Obstetric Violence and What if it Happens to You?" posted in Lamaze International's "Giving Birth with Confidence," defines obstetric violence, lays out women's rights in childbirth, and advises women on what they can do if they experience obstetric violence,...
Reproductive Rights Articles
Abuse Happens to Women in Labor Rooms Too
While tales of abuse and harassment of women are exploding in the news and social media, there is one arena in which disrespect, bullying, and, yes, even physical and sexual assault are all too common, but silence is near complete. “Who’s in control when you’re giving...
Do Laboring Women Retain Their Right to Make Medical Decisions about Their Care?
You might be thinking this is a silly question because every competent adult has the right to make decisions about their medical care, but, in fact, doctors, hospital administrators, and lawyers don’t see it that way. I give you Exhibit A: “An ongoing fight for more...
Tubal Ligation Denied at Catholic Hospital
Women planning to have their tubes tied during cesarean surgery should consider whether their hospital will allow it because if the hospital is Catholic, there's a high probability that it won't. As this article makes clear, tubal ligation may be denied even with...
Medical Journal Commentary Breaks Silence on Abuse of Women, Improving Birth Follows Up
Advocates for humane, respectful treatment of women receiving reproductive health care take note: The current issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine includes a commentary, "Our Family Secrets," in which the physician author reveals a dark side of medical treatment...
Mistreatment of Women During Childbirth a Global Problem
Connecting the Dots covered a review of studies finding that mistreatment of women during childbirth is a common problem around the world, and the U.S. and Canada aren't exceptions. Christine Morton's comment on the blog post cites a survey of doulas, childbirth...