“On the afternoon of Sept. 9, 2024, Cherise Doyley was in her 12th hour of contractions at the University of Florida Health when a nurse came in with a bedsheet and told her to cover up. A supervisor brought a tablet to her bedside. On the screen were a judge in a black robe and several lawyers, doctors and hospital staff.
Turns out the hospital asked for a hearing because they wanted Cherise to have a c section , something that she didn’t want and also DIDN’T NEED !
Cherise didn’t have a lawyer or an advocate and she didn’t understand what was going on !
The state filed an emergency petition at the hospital’s request. The hospital and state attorney’s office wanted to force Cherise to undergo a cesarean section. Cherise, a professional birthing doula, didn’t want that and had been firm about it. She’d had three prior C-sections, one that resulted in a hemorrhage, and wanted to avoid another serious complication.
But the choice was no longer hers. The judge would decide how she would give birth.
After a THREE HOUR HEARING WHILE IN ACTIVE LABOR, she was forced to have a court-ordered c-section.
Many lawyers say this is extremely alarming that the hospital took away this mother’s right to choose , especially since there wasn’t a need for a c-section.”
This is very alarming, and very dangerous, as this is telling how women are actively losing our rights. Not only are we forced to give birth, but apparently hospitals can force us HOW to give birth.
Black women already have a high rate of maternal deaths due to medical racism.
This story needs to be spread and discussed, as I’m sure many people didn’t know that this unfortunately had occurred, and aren’t aware that this is a possibility that can happen to any of us or our loved ones.