Study: Lack of Informed Consent Leads to Birth Trauma
New research is showing an urgent need for informed consent for procedures during birth, as reported by the online Woman’s Agenda news hub. According to the report, many parents experience mental or physical challenges following birth, and one in three agree to interventions without fully understanding the risks.
One woman interviewed for the report shared that a procedure she consented to “can result in umbilical cord prolapse, variable fetal heart decelerations due to cord compression, bleeding from the cervix, bleeding from fetal vessels in the membranes, intrauterine infection, placental abruption and amniotic fluid embolism,” saying she was not fully informed and would not have given consent had she known the risks.
The report asserted a direct correlation between lack of informed consent and birth trauma, claiming:
- Only 34 percent of providers studied discussed pelvic organ prolapse or nerve damage prior to birth
- Only 43 percent of providers educated parents about severe tears or urinary or fecal incontinence
- Less than a third of providers discussed emergency complications after birth, such as cord prolapse, shoulder dystocia, and hysterectomy
The article also reported that one in four parents experienced physical injuries, 28 percent had mental health challenges due to lack of sufficient information, and 18 percent felt their baby’s health was affected by birth interventions.
While many things can complicate pregnancy, some birth injuries arise solely from human error, or things that could have been prevented. Tom Duffy has recovered birth injury settlements in excess of $20,000,000. If you would like to speak with a top Philadelphia birth injury attorney in Philadelphia, contact us to learn more.