Obstetric violence is the normalized mistreatment of women and birthing people in the childbirth setting. It is an attempt to control a woman’s body and decisions, violating her autonomy and dignity. It has also been termed “disrespect & abuse” by the World Health Organization.

​In short, it is the neglect, lack of respect, and physical, sexual or verbal abuse during pregnancy and childbirth.

All pregnant and birthing women are at risk however there are several groups who are at higher risk:

During pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum you have rights, and there are no rights that you lose because of pregnancy or childbirth. They are as follows:

You have a number of options if you have been a victim of obstetric violence. They are as follows:

Each and every situation will be different and the way it should be handled will depend on the facts of the situation. It is best to consult a lawyer to discuss your options.

​Finally, while difficult, speaking up and speaking out against this kind of treatment helps prevent it from happening to others. It also helps us collectively deal with the current medical culture that tolerates and perpetuates the problem.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me to discuss further. As always, I provide a free initial consultation.