Developing our organisational values: living our anti-racist value
As she nears her first year in post, Birthrights’ CEO, Hazel Williams, reflects on our organisational values and how we are putting our commitment to anti-racism into practice.
The elephant in the room: how the human rights framework is still missing from maternity reform
The NMNI and Nottingham reviews add to the existing body of evidence of human rights violations in maternity services but fail to recognise that solutions must be underpinned by the human rights framework in order to avoid the continuation of catastrophic harm.
Birthrights Day launches to highlight women and birthing peoples’ human rights in maternity care
The first Birthrights Day is being launched on 26 September to shine a light on women and birthing peoples’ basic human rights in maternity care with the slogan – Your body. Your birth. Your rights.
Megan’s story: “I was not asked for consent I was just told it was happening”
Megan is a mother of five. Here she looks back at her experiences of coercion during maternity and labour…
CP v Spain: Why a major European court ruling on maternity care is a wake-up call for bodily autonomy rights
CP v Spain: Why a major European court ruling on maternity care is a wake-up call for bodily autonomy rights
Sarah’s story: “They took this distressed statement as consent”
Sarah knows only too well the long-term impacts that can happen as a result of birth trauma. Her experience of being coerced into a caesarean birth (her second) not only affected her mental health but robbed her of the redemptive birth experience she was hoping for. Here is her story…
Lucy’s story: “At every appointment I had to fight for my rights”
Lucy* has had two babies and two very different birth experiences. Here in her own words, she talk about the coercion she experienced with her first baby…
Coerced vaginal exams held by Australian court to amount to battery and negligence
In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of Victoria has found an Australian hospital guilty of battery and negligence for pressuring a woman to accept a vaginal exam in labour that she did not want. She received damages totalling nearly AUS$300k. So how is this case relevant to the UK?
Consent forms and coercion: Considerations for healthcare professionals
When talking about supporting informed decision-making in maternity, the consent form is a topic that comes up time and again. We are aware that, as part of a broader trend towards defensive practice, some trusts have been increasing their use of consent forms, in the (mistaken) belief that they offer a cloak of legal protection.
Hannah’s story: “I was told if I didn’t agree then I may be referred to social services — I knew this was coercion again”
Experienced mum Hannah* tells us about the coercion she faced in the lead up to giving birth to her third child.