Thread by @GilliannaSeech1

Obstetric Violence is a violation of women’s rights and is an issue that many people know nothing about.This pretty much means the mistreatment or disrespect of their human rights of any person giving birth in labor or in the prenatal period . #birthtrauma #njcurj

Mistreatment can happen on a wide ranging spectrum, some examples include humiliation,discrimination, lack of privacy, bullying & verbal or physical abuse, usually committed by nurses, doctors and other medical staff , sometimes even midwives. #njcurj

In some cases women are denied food and water&even forced into medical procedures without their consent. It occurs all over hospitals not only in the United States but in other parts of the world as well. Anecdotal rates reported that people of color are mistreated more. #njcurj

Unfortunately it is often overlooked, due to lack of information about it, it complicates things when it comes to making a change. The most information that is out there would have to be the stories of the victims who faced obstetric violence themselves.#njcurj

There was one case in May 2013,Kimberly Turbin a two time rape survivor who was insured by a company that provided her with low cost or free healthcare. Her request to the staff was for them to be gentle with her and to ask permission before doing any procedure #njcurj

Kimberly’s doctor, Alex Abbasi who she had just met one day before she went into labor, told her that he was going to perform an episiotomy ( surgical cut made at the opening of the vagina during childbirth) #njcurj

This specific procedure is only performed in cases of distress and emergency, Kimberly as well as her baby were not experiencing any medical distress. She repeatedly told the doctor not to cut her but continued to do so, 12 times into her perineum without her consent. #njcurj

This incident was recorded by her mother, and in 2015 Abbasi gave up his license to practice. With a lot of crowdfunding, hard work and three long years Kimberly was granted a lawsuit case of assault and battery against Abbasi. They settled out of court in 2017. #njcurj

Kimberly was able to get justice, but this is not the case for so many other women. Even with video proof of being treated inappropriately it still took her a lot of hard work to get justice for herself, imagine the women who have no evidence at all. #njcurj

It is upsetting when listening to other stories like Kimberlys. Every human being has the right to health, to privacy, to life,to equal treatment, to refuse medical treatment and the right to informed consent. #njcurj

A person doesn’t lose their fundamental human rights upon getting pregnant.More women will come forward to tell their stories.If other women see that nothing is happening they will be hesitant in going to hospitals for help,in fear of getting treated wrongly by staff #njcurj

In order to make a change I suggest more women to come forward& to share their stories,so others can read & become more educated on the topic,by submitting your story to the Human Rights in Childbirth organization for help and information on seeking justice #njcurj #birthtrauma

Institutions should have surveys after someone gives birth to give feedback on their birth experience. Kind of like how colleges have professor evaluations, they should have doctor/medical staff evaluations. #njcurj

This would give the people who run the facilities an idea of how well their staff treats patients. #njcurj

@JenniferMusial