Protecting human rights in childbirth
Registered Charity Number 1151152
Rebecca BrioneFor the second time this year, the Court of Protection has ruled it lawful to transfer a pregnant woman to hospital to give birth, apparently against her wishes. The Court of Protection exists to make decisions on financial, welfare and health matters for people who ‘lack capacity’ to make the decision for themselves under the … Read more
In June, Birthrights and Birth Companions published ‘Holding it all together’, our report into the human rights issues experienced by women facing disadvantage. Our research found that women who were asylum seekers had worse experiences of care than other women facing disadvantage, often describing care as functional rather than supportive. Women told us about living … Read more
In recent months, the Court of Protection has ruled on a number of cases permitting doctors to carry out Caesarean sections on women against their wishes, either because they lack capacity to make the decision for themselves, or because their healthcare providers are worried that they might lose capacity during labour. In one recent case … Read more
On Monday the Guardian reported on a Court of Protection ruling that permits doctors to perform a Caesarean section on a woman in case she loses capacity, against her express wishes. Birthrights has not yet seen the full judgment, however the reporting raises a number of very worrying questions about the process and its impact … Read more