A Cape Coral woman lost a legal battle with a Charlotte County hospital over whether or not she should be forced to have a C-section.
Jennifer Goodall of Cape Coral gave birth to her son this past weekend via a C-section, but that’s not what she planned.
Goodall was hoping to give birth naturally. But, because she had three C-sections prior to this delivery, her doctors insisted she have a fourth C-section. That’s because vaginal births are considered risky after a cesarean. However, multiple cesareans are also considered risky.
An advocacy group for pregnant women said Bayfront Health in Port Charlotte took things a step too far, though.
On July 10th, the hospital’s CFO sent Goodall a letter threatening to call Florida’s Department of Children and Families on her.
Farah Diaz –Tello, with National Advocates for Pregnant Women, said women are often coerced to have C-sections, but Goodall’s story is particularly alarming.
“It is very rare that women receive actual legal threats from hospitals or officers of hospitals,” she said. “Certainly we have heard of women being threatened with calls to child protective services based on the decisions they are making about their bodies during pregnancy. We have never seen this type of threat committed to writing.”
Goodall asked a judge to grant her protection against Bayfront Health, so she could have a vaginal birth there. But, the judge sided with the hospital.
In a statement, Marti Van Veen, a spokesperson for Bayfront Health, said “our hospital is very respectful of a patient’s right to informed consent and we eagerly encourage patient involvement in decisions regarding their care, particularly in respect to a mother’s birth plan.”
“We also rely on physicians to use their clinical judgment based on their training and experience to deliver the standard of medical care that preserves human life and results in the best possible outcomes,” Van Veen said in a statement.
Goodall’s story garnered national attention and incited protests outside Bayfront Health. Goodall eventually gave birth at Cape Coral hospital after attempting a home birth.
