¿Vulneración del derecho a decidir entre parto natural o cesárea?: Análisis de la Sentencia 233/2023, 22 de febrero Juzgado de lo Contencioso Administrativo número 5 de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria / [Violation of the right to decide between natural birth or cesarean section?: Analysis of Sentence 233/2023, February 22, Contentious Administrative Court number 5 of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]

A través del presente comentario se analiza la Sentencia del Juzgado de lo Contencioso Administrativo número 5 de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, de 22 de febrero de 2023, ECLI:ES:JCA:2023:1039; en la que se condena al Servicio Canario de Salud a indemnizar a una mujer con un millón de euros por vulnerar su derecho a decidir entre parto natural o cesárea e imponer un parto gemelar natural prolongado hasta 17 horas que tuvo como consecuencia una lesión cerebral irreversible. (AU)

Through this commentary, the Judgment of the Administrative Court number 5 of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, dated February 22, 2023, ECLI:ES:JCA:2023:1039, is analyzed. In this judgment, the Canarian Health Service is condemned to compensate a woman with one million euros for violating her right to choose between natural childbirth or cesarean section, and imposing a prolonged natural twin birth lasting up to 17 hours, which resulted in irreversible brain damage. (AU)

A Violent Birth: Reframing Coerced Procedures During Childbirth as Obstetric Violence.

In the United States, women are routinely forced to undergo cesarean sections, episiotomies, and the use of forceps, despite their desire to attempt natural vaginal delivery. Yet, the current American legal system does little to provide redress for women coerced to undergo certain medical procedures during childbirth. Courts and physicians alike are prepared to override a woman's choice of childbirth procedure if they believe this choice poses risks to the fetus, and both give little value to the woman's right to bodily autonomy. This Note proposes a solution for addressing the problem of coerced medical procedures during childbirth by importing a framework created in Venezuela and Argentina that characterizes this issue as "obstetric violence." First, this Note contains an overview of the shortcomings of the existing American legal framework to address the problem. Second, it explains the advantages of the obstetric violence framework and argues that its adoption in the United States would address many of the failures of the existing system. And third, this Note introduces a few legislative and litigation strategies that can be used to implement this framework in the United States and briefly addresses some of the challenges these strategies may pose.

Uma reflexão após 23 anos das recomendações da Organização Mundial da Saúde para parto normal / A consideration after 23 years of the World Health Organization recommendations for normal delivery

Os resultados maternos e perinatais brasileiros nos últimos 23 anos vêm apresentando melhoras constantes, contudo a mortalidade e a morbidade ainda são inaceitavelmente elevadas. Fato curioso que ocorre é a discrepância entre o conhecimento científico disponível e a prática clínica, mencionando-se como exemplo emblemático as elevadas taxas de cesariana. A não-valorização do ser humano e da feminilidade no atendimento ao parto e nascimento constitui pano de fundo deste cenário da saúde brasileira. Este artigo tem o objetivo de fazer uma reflexão da situação obstétrica e perinatal brasileira, 23 anos após a publicação das recomendações da Organização Mundial da Saúde (A, B), para atenção ao parto de baixo risco

The maternal and perinatal outcomes in Brazil in the last 23 years have been showing constant improvements, however the mortality and morbidity remain unacceptably high. A curious fact is the discrepancy between the available scientific knowledge and the clinical practice, having as an emblematic example the high rates of cesarean section. The non-recovery of human being and femininity in the health services, especially during birth care, is the background of the Brazilian health scenario. This article aims at making a reflection of the Brazilian obstetric and perinatal situation, 23 years after the publication of the World Health Organization (A, B) recommendations to focus on low risk delivery