Born Free Method: The Podcast Hermine Hayes: Birthing autonomy is the struggle of midwives for legal recognition and patient rights.
Hermine discusses the tragic incident where the baby died during the home birth and the aftermath that the family and their midwife faced. Hermine argues that home births are treated as a normal healthcare choice in many countries, but in the United States, doctors have the power to make that choice questionable. In this case, the baby did not survive and the doctors called the police on the parents upon arrival at the hospital. The family and their midwife were interrogated and had their homes raided, causing them to go through a traumatic experience. Hermine highlights the double standard between the treatment of home birth midwives versus obstetricians and calls for more integration of home births into the healthcare system.
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In this episode:
[5:00] Women will choose to give birth where they feel safest, regardless of the law.
- In states where out-of-hospital births are not regulated, they continue to occur.
- Out-of-hospital birth underground does not change the choice.
[14:00] Birthing women have the right to make decisions about their care.
- Respecting these rights is crucial to avoid coercion and ensure patient autonomy.
- They have the right to refuse offers of treatment, including cesarean surgery.
[23:00] The standard of care for a lay midwife differs from that of an ob-gyn or nurse midwife.
- Negligent child abuse resulting in death is a specific charge with a legal definition.
- The term "negligent" can have different meanings in different contexts.
[32:00] Even when something doesn't feel right, it can impact women’s ability to make informed decisions.
- The state may be working to make hospital births the only option, punishing midwives.
- Informed consent in maternity care has been distorted.
[41:00] Women are conditioned to be agreeable, which affects their decision-making process during vulnerable times like childbirth.
- Detaching from this conditioning can be challenging, but important to do so.
- Empathy is a valuable trait, and not be taken advantage of in medical situations.
[50:00] Medicine, especially in obstetrics, is a privilege that must be approached with respect and empathy.
- Healthcare providers must examine their actions toward their patients to ensure they are not violating their rights.
- Healthcare providers should create a culture of informed consent and respect for patients' bodily autonomy.
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