Childbirth Choices Debate

Very interesting story on a woman who will be traveling over 300 miles away from her husband and children in order to avoid having a C-section.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/15/hospitals.ban.vbacs/index.html

Uugh---how very frustrating!

I am just wondering why she doesn't just go for a home birth or look into delivering at a birth center?

And I'm just curious what the hospital would do if she showed up at the hospital ready to push and refused to have a c-section?

Stick her in the broom closet or have her deliver in the elevator?

Can a hospital really FORCE someone to have a medical procedure done without their consent?  If she showed up at the hospital would they simply ignore her?

Can they DO that?

I think it's really scary.  The article says:

After their discussion with their doctor, the Szabos made an appointment to speak with Page Hospital's CEO, Sandy Haryasz. When the couple told her about their desire for a vaginal birth, they say Haryasz would not budge, even telling them she would get a court order if necessary to ensure Joy delivered via C-section.

I can't imagine being court ordered to have an unnecessary surgery.  I hope this story is popular in Arizona and people get very angry.  What a horrible policy.

That is so terrible!  If I were her I would plan on a home birth, but of course that's not for everyone.  How can they be so blind to the risks of c-sections?  Of course there are risks to VBAC's, but they are so slim and there are so many benefits of a vaginal birth to mother and baby. 

Thank goodness my hospital doesn't have a similar policy, mind you I am planning a home birth anyways but if I do need to go to the hospital I would be willing to go some distance to avoid another c-section too.  If I were set on a hospital birth I would go while in very active labour and refuse a c-section.  By the time they get a court order she would have given birth anyways.  That really blows my mind though - to force a person into unnecessary surgery is disgusting.

Un-frickin-real.  Her second birth was cesearean, her third birth was a successful VBAC but they want the fourth birth to be a scheduled cesearean?

Sandy Haryasz

PAGE HOSPITAL
501 NORTH NAVAJO DRIVE
PAGE, AZ 86040

Dear Ms. Sandy Haryasz,

Please explain how a woman who had a successful VBAC is now being forced to travel 300 miles away because your hospital is refusing to allow her to have another VBAC.  This is America, which claims to have freedom of choice for all women.  How is this letting Joy Szabo have freedom of choice?  What if instead of a request for a second VBAC, Mrs. Szabo was asking for a second abortion, which also carries risks.  Would you deny her that?

Sincerely,

edited to add--please feel free to do a C&P of this letter.  That is the intent, to kick off a letter writing campaign.