Mom Refuses C-Section, Baby Taken Away
Wow, we just can't believe this.
A woman in New Jersey refused to
consent to a C-section during labor in the event that her
baby was in distress. She ended up giving birth
vaginally without incident. The baby was in good medical
condition.
However, her baby was taken away from her and her parental
rights were terminated because she "abused and neglected her
child" by refusing
the C-section and behaving "erratically"
while in labor.
How is this legal?
A New Jersey appellate court has upheld the shocking ruling, and
custody has been given to the child's
foster
parents.
The court's decision cites hospital records that describe
the mother, V.M., as "combative,"
"uncooperative," "erratic,"
"noncompliant," "irrational" and
"inappropriate." That's how we acted during labor,
too ... but our babies weren't taken away, thank God.
The court opinion also focuses on the fact that the mother had
been in psychiatric care for twelve years prior to the birth. But,
as the Huffington Post points out, her psychiatric
state would never have been questioned if the mother had not
refused invasive abdominal surgery -- which was entirely within her
rights.
Read the entire court ruling here.
LINK