A Tasmanian lawyer says the alleged experiences of women demonstrate the importance of informed consent. Multiple mothers told the ABC they underwent procedures or were medicated without consent while giving birth at the Launceston general hospital. Now, other women - who are taking legal action - have detailed their traumatic experiences in submissions to an inquiry.
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00:00Some women have been speaking out about their traumatic experience of birth inside Tasmanian hospitals.
00:09Others have made submissions to a parliamentary inquiry investigating maternity services around the state.
00:16One woman alleges hospital staff delayed investigating her abdominal pain.
00:21Her baby subsequently died and she had to be resuscitated.
00:25Claire suffered a birth injury she claims caused permanent infertility.
00:29She planned to have a large family and says it impacted her mental health.
00:33Emma says her baby's arm was paralyzed as a result of birth and she suffered a third degree perineal tear and pelvic floor damage as a result of birth.
00:42She now has urinary incontinence and mental health impacts.
00:46The hospital has admitted liability in this case.
00:49These women have all now taken legal action.
00:52It's something solicitor Bernadette Davies is all too familiar with.
00:56She's represented other Tasmanian women who've suffered birth trauma.
01:01The right of an individual to provide informed consent is protected under the law and it's a very important facet of the law.
01:10Those representing hospital staff say it's important to remember that they're often making split second life and death decisions.
01:18Decisions are made all the time in a hospital in emergencies without obtaining explicit consent from a patient.
01:25But that's because it's deemed to be in the best interests physically, psychologically but particularly physically for the care of the mother and the baby.
01:34The patient must be properly advised of risks before any medical intervention and treatment takes place.
01:42And if that advice is not properly given then the patient can't make a properly informed choice.
01:49It is a significant duty that's owed by medical professionals to patients and if it's breached the consequences are dire.
01:57An ABC investigation into birth trauma uncovered allegations of women undergoing medical procedures and being medicated without consent at the Launceston General Hospital.
02:08It's hoped these experiences will help inform the Tasmanian Government inquiry into maternal services.
02:14That's the sort of evidence that a Parliamentary Committee can take into account and help inform the Government and public policy in this area.
02:23And that's why I think this Maternal Health Committee that's been established in the Parliament will do important work of uncovering those stories and those experiences and being able to address them properly.