TABLE 2.

Selected Comments Describing Various Hospitals’ Refusal Procedures Regarding Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)*

“Not allowed to refuse; they have no forms for refusal of a procedure. Even if you are crowning, they will section you because it's against hospital policy.” [a regional medical center in Arkansas]

“Can't refuse; it's hospital policy. Will be sectioned unless there is absolutely no time to do it.” [a county medical center in Arkansas]

“Unless the baby is just about ‘hanging out,’ they will send you home if you refuse the section. That's the only way.” Hospital has publicly stated that they would seek a court order for a cesarean if a patient refused a repeat cesarean, even if she has already had a VBAC at that facility, previously. [a hospital in Arizona]

“Too high-risk. Too much liability. You won't find anywhere around here that does them.” [a regional medical center in California]

“VBAC is very high risk of…hemorrhage and [uterine rupture]. Basically, since you've already had a baby, your uterus is like a birthday balloon that's been blown up, cut in half, so it's quite risky.” [Interviewer asks survey participant if she has ever seen (a rupture). Participant replies, “Oh yeah. They die in 7 minutes before they even get to the OR.” Participant continues, “For the doctors that do them, you have to sign lots of papers, informed consent.] [a hospital in California]

Women arriving at the hospital and refusing a c-section will be “sectioned anyway.” [a hospital in Colorado]

Note. *Comments recorded by International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) volunteers who surveyed hospitals by phone. (Source: ICAN's “VBAC Ban Database” at www.ican-online.org/, as of May 24, 2010.)