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Original poster

Forced hospital transfer in labour - for induction of labour - upheld by ECHR

108 replies

NibliaBiblia · 28/08/2026 11:58

Police and an ambulance arrived with a court order to compel the transfer to hospital if a woman safely labouring at home with her midwife - and forced her to undergo an induction of labour!

And the ECHR has upheld the court order. Dark day for our right to control our own bodies.

https://birthrights.org.uk/2026/08/27/cp-v-spain-why-a-major-european-court-ruling-on-maternity-care-is-a-wake-up-call-for-bodily-autonomy-rights/

CP v Spain: Why a major European court ruling on maternity care is a wake-up call for bodily autonomy rights - Birthrights

Birthrights 'End Coercion in Maternity Care in the UK' Report Case Study Social Services and Maternity Care blog long read

https://birthrights.org.uk/2026/08/27/cp-v-spain-why-a-major-european-court-ruling-on-maternity-care-is-a-wake-up-call-for-bodily-autonomy-rights/

OP posts:
Original poster
NibliaBiblia · 28/08/2026 13:25

CoupDeToe · 28/08/2026 13:22

Don't @ me. It's considered bad etiquette on this forum.

Most ordinary people would consider that the baby has some form of rights at 42+ weeks. I have read accounts on the other boards of women having stillbirths because they have ignored their doctors suggesting induction because they want to do their natural thing.

There's no point arguing with people with such extreme positions. There are so many people on this forum who think that the woman should even have a right to an abortion at 40+ weeks. I won't be back on this thread and leave you to it.

Show quote history

Lots of people think a woman should be forced to undergo a C-section because VBAC is too dangerous but I'm surprised to see someone on a feminist forum advocating forcible administration of invasive medical treatment to a perfectly healthy pregnant woman.

OP posts:
CoupDeToe · 28/08/2026 13:22

KnottyAuty · 28/08/2026 13:03

Blimey - no wonder the labour stalled! I doubt anyone could birth a baby under those circumstances. The adrenaline from hearing police at the door must have been off the charts.

@CoupDeToe the hospital checks on initial hospital admission confirmed there was no problem with the birth at that time. Based on the evidence on the article it’s unclear whether this intervention by the authorities improved or increased risk for mum and baby. We would need to know more - notably theres no detail about whether the baby did have a large head as suspected. The fact it wasnt mentioned at all and that the mother sued suggests to me it was a false positive which meant the whole debacle might have been avoidable. Very sad story

ETA advice is not to get into a birthing pool until the birth is progressing so it must have completely stalled/reversed due to the police arriving.

Edited

Don't @ me. It's considered bad etiquette on this forum.

Most ordinary people would consider that the baby has some form of rights at 42+ weeks. I have read accounts on the other boards of women having stillbirths because they have ignored their doctors suggesting induction because they want to do their natural thing.

There's no point arguing with people with such extreme positions. There are so many people on this forum who think that the woman should even have a right to an abortion at 40+ weeks. I won't be back on this thread and leave you to it.

KnottyAuty · 28/08/2026 13:03

Blimey - no wonder the labour stalled! I doubt anyone could birth a baby under those circumstances. The adrenaline from hearing police at the door must have been off the charts.

@CoupDeToe the hospital checks on initial hospital admission confirmed there was no problem with the birth at that time. Based on the evidence on the article it’s unclear whether this intervention by the authorities improved or increased risk for mum and baby. We would need to know more - notably theres no detail about whether the baby did have a large head as suspected. The fact it wasnt mentioned at all and that the mother sued suggests to me it was a false positive which meant the whole debacle might have been avoidable. Very sad story

ETA advice is not to get into a birthing pool until the birth is progressing so it must have completely stalled/reversed due to the police arriving.

Original poster
NibliaBiblia · 28/08/2026 12:59

CoupDeToe · 28/08/2026 12:57

You're being ridiculous and are completely out of touch.

Good on Spain for saving the baby.

Wow.

OP posts:
CoupDeToe · 28/08/2026 12:57

You're being ridiculous and are completely out of touch.

Good on Spain for saving the baby.

Octavia64 · 28/08/2026 12:54

having read this it is in Spain and the article makes clear it does not apply to Britain.

Original poster
NibliaBiblia · 28/08/2026 12:53

It was the ECHR upholding it that i find even more shocking tbh. So sad.

OP posts:
DitheringDaisyPetal · 28/08/2026 12:49

Shocking. But less surprising when you see where this took place. Spain’s lawmakers don’t seem to have much respect for women.