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| Today Birthrights and Mumsnet have published the results of a survey showing that five years on from the ‘Montgomery ruling’, which established that women are the primary decision makers in their own care, less than half say this accurately describes their experience. The ‘Montgomery ruling’ of 11 March 2015 is named after claimant (and Birthrights patron) Nadine Montgomery, whose son was born with cerebral palsy as a result of complications during his birth. Mrs Montgomery, who is diabetic and of a short stature, raised concerns a number of times about her baby’s size and whether she would be able to give birth vaginally. In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court ruled that Mrs Montgomery should have been told about the increased risks of a vaginal delivery in her circumstances, and been offered the ‘reasonable alternative’ of a caesarean section if she preferred. The court ruled that women cannot give informed consent to decisions about their care if they are not given personalised information, presented in an understandable way, as well as the opportunity to have a proper discussion with a healthcare professional The Mumsnet and Birthrights survey of 1145 women who have given birth at least once reveals that 14% say their opinions and decisions when planning for giving birth were overruled, and 11% say there was an attempt to overrule their opinions and decisions. In total, 24% of the mothers surveyed say their decisions and opinions about their care were not respected. 30%, worryingly, say their decisions and opinions were not sought at all. I was told what was going to happen to me. I had no say in it. – Survey respondent Staff tended to treat me like a child, telling me what I must do. When I disagreed with their instructions I was met with disapproval and silence. It was a battle. – Survey respondent Survey respondents were given an outline of the legal position – ‘An expectant mother is the primary decision maker about her care, and the midwives’ and doctors’ role is to advise her’ – and asked whether it reflected their own experience. Less than half (45%) said it did, while 42% said it did not. I was called in to hospital to ‘discuss a sweep’ – but they just carried it out without discussing it with me at all. – Survey respondent Responses seem to show that women who have atypical pregnancies or pre-existing health conditions are more likely to receive information about choices: My first birth was consultant-led due to having a complicated back problem. I felt very taken care of. The team informed me and gave me options the whole way along. – Survey respondent The survey shows clear disparities in the way some birth and care choices are discussed with women: – 74% say they were given the opportunity to discuss the benefits of a vaginal delivery, but only 42% said they were given the opportunity to discuss the benefits of a caesarean section; – 61% say they discussed the benefits of giving birth on a hospital ward, but only 38% said they were given the opportunity to discuss the benefits of giving birth at home. I wanted a home birth, and although it was all agreed weeks in advance they tried to make me go into hospital just before the birth. – Survey respondent 43% of respondents said the information they were given was not tailored to their individual situation, and 61% said they would have liked more information to help them make decisions about their care and planning for birth. After three days of labour, I was told to choose between an emergency forceps delivery or C-section. I knew the risks of a C-section so I opted for forceps. I ended up with a severe prolapsed bladder which is making my life a misery. I had no idea this was one of the risks of forceps and that it apparently happens to lots of women. – Survey respondent My labour spun out of control and things just started happening to me without discussion. I was very much pressured to agree to certain things because they felt it best. – Survey respondent Among women who had given birth since the Supreme Court ruling, there’s a small but statistically significant trend in the right direction on some of these measures. 47% (compared with 42% of all respondents) said they were given the opportunity to discuss the benefits of a caesarean section. And when asked whether the description of the Montgomery standard reflected their experience, 50% (up from 45%) said it did, while 37% (down from 42%) said it did not. These survey results form part of Birthrights submission to the Health and Social Care Committee’s inquiry into the safety of maternity services in England. Nadine Montgomery, said: “Five years ago the Supreme Court ruled that I was denied my right to make an informed choice about how I gave birth. My legitimate concerns were overruled, because a doctor felt that she knew best. My son and I live with the consequences everyday. My real hope is to see a sea-change in healthcare where all pregnant women, and indeed all patients, are treated as capable adults who are supported to make informed choices, who are listened to and respected, not treated like children who need to be told what to do. If this is the legacy of the 16 years I spent taking my case through the courts, it will have been worth it.” Maria Booker, Programmes Director, Birthrights, said: “Five years on from the Montgomery vs Lanarkshire decision, it is concerning to see that so many women still don’t feel like they have the right to make decisions about what happens to their body during pregnancy and birth even though it is their clear legal right to do so.” |