Janet Fraser
BY MIA FREEDMAN Is there a more offensive term than ‘birth rape’? If there is, I haven’t heard it. ‘Birth rape’ is the extraordinary name some women use to describe a birth that involves medical ‘intervention’, even when it is done to save the life of mother or baby. I’m confused as well as appalled by this description.
When did doctors become the enemy? And hospitals? And medicine? And how have attempts to save the lives of mothers and babies become confused with violent crimes?
Lately I’ve noticed a worrying trend among some groups and individuals towards demonising the medical profession and it baffles me.
Between the anti-vaccination brigade at the AVN who believe immunisations are an evil conspiracy between scientists, doctors and ‘Big Pharma’ (big pharmaceutical companies) to make money and those who believe the same thing about other potentially life-saving procedures such as cancer treatment, there are some seriously disturbing beliefs out there that can have deadly consequences.
Which brings me to the Freebirthers.
Freebirthing is different to home-birthing even though both involve giving birth at home. A bit like the extreme sport version of birthing, freebirthers choose to give birth “freely” at home without the assistance of doctors or midwives. So there is nobody present who has any medical experience if things go wrong.
There’s an inquest underway this week into a free birth where things did go tragically wrong and ended in the death of a baby girl (her mother, a freebirthing advocate, claims the baby was stillborn). On freebirthing websites, there is much talk of ‘birth rape’ and ‘birth trauma’, as if hospitals and doctors and even midwives were somehow conspiring to harm women and babies.
Which is a concept so offensive as to almost defy comprehension.
Equally offensive to me is the idea that doctors try to make their patients sick – even kill them - so as to make more money out of them. And that pharmaceutical companies encourage this (allegedly by bribing doctors) so they can sell more drugs. There was a story on the weekend about a guest post on Miranda Kerr’s Kora blog by 24 year old Northern Territory cancer survivor Liana Werner-Gray who wrote about how it was possible to ‘cure cancer’ in 24 hours with fresh air and positive thinking.
Liana Werner-Gray
Ms Werner-Gray reiterated her beliefs yesterday. “People get sick and they think they have to do what the doctor says but it’s not always the best thing,” she told the NT News. “(Doctors) say to (consider chemotherapy or radiotherapy) but that’s because it’s a big, fat, money-making business,” she said.
President of the Australian Medical Association NT, Dr Paul Bauert, said Ms Werner-Gray’s comments posed “a real danger”.
“Feeling good about yourself, what you’re eating and how you’re exercising will all help your immune system but it’s not going to cure cancer,” Mr Bauert said. “If (Ms Werner-Gray) is suggesting those regimes (chemotherapy and radiotherapy) should be ignored, then that commentator is doing serious damage to cancer sufferers”.
While Ms Werner-Gray conceded that publicly advising people on how to treat cancer can be dangerous, she said “it’s (her) duty to humanity to tell the truth”.
In defending the post (before it was taken down) a Kora spokesperson worryingly said that contributors were free to express their “opinions and personal research”.
Personal research? That’s deeply disturbing. Where does ‘personal research’ differ from ‘false hope’, ‘dangerous misinformation’ and ‘fairy stories’?
Where on earth did these people get it into their heads that medical professionals are out to kill and ‘birth rape’ us? And what effect do their wild claims have on vulnerable people who are desperately looking for credible information and hope?
Comments
429 Comments so far
If I was ‘birth raped’ when my son was born – well thank god for that. Because if I hadn’t been he would have died. I was 22, healthy and enjoying a ‘text book pregnancy’ – he is now 28, married and has two little boys. I have never had anything but thanks for the doctors and nurses who took over after I had been in labour for nearly 24 hours and told me that I needed a c-section. I think anyone who thinks that it’s okay to use that awful term needs to have a bloody long hard look at themself.
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well no.
if you didn’t feel violated, then you cannot say you experienced ‘birth rape’. If you felt informed and cared for then you cannot say you experienced ‘birth rape’.
that’s like saying because you make love to your husband you have experienced rape. no.
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I am disagreeing with the term ‘birthrape’ – not sure you what mean by ‘no’.
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That was my reply, didn’t mean it to be anon. Happy to use my name with my comments.
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As an honest question, if the Dr didnt intervene (even if intervention meant you went home with a healthy bub), and you walked away with a dead baby to bury, would you feel better?
If the choice of life or death means you take discomfort or pain to even possibly give your child a better chance at live, would you take it? Or would you want the doctor to stop and tell you everything there is to know about all the things they might do next if they need to?
Im genuinely curious as to what you would do, given your time again, and whether you would have been content with the alternative outcome.
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I’m not sure I know what you are asking. I was being sarcastic using the term ‘birthrape’ – of course I don’t think I was. I am so glad that the Drs took the course they did, to be honest I would have done ANYTHING to get my baby out and alive. I am against the term ‘birthrape’ for gods sake. Can you explain what you are asking?
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Hi Kathryn, I was actually replying to Jayne, not you. I am 100% behind you in that ‘birth rape’ is a ridiculous term .
I was actually asking Jayne that if she experienced birth rape herself, would she have preferred it any other way, even if it meant risking her childs life.
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Oh okay Cait, I was so baffled! Such an emotive topic, be interesting to see Jayne’s answer for sure. Kathryn
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I don’t think anyone would class your birth experience as ‘birth rape’. The term birth rape is referring to penetration without consent not life saving intervention.
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No and I didn’t say I was. If you re-read my original post you will see that. I do understand the meaning of the word rape, thanks.
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I wonder if people who strongly believe in free birth would turn away medical help if they themselves ever needed it, such as car accident or something similar.
I think people feel they can just pick and choose parts of science and offer advice that is neither researched or even proven.
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Birth trauma and birth rape are very different things. I myself have experienced significant birth trauma but would NEVER refer to my experiences as rape. I think there are very few instances where the label birth rape is appropriate but I am sure that it is a real thing and thankfully only experienced by very very few women.
Women giving birth are in a vulnerable position. It is the responsibility of the caregiver to keep the woman informed and involved in her treatment. A women whose baby is stuck in the birth canal and has it explained to her that the baby needs to be assisted using forceps and is able to understand that is unlikely to feel she has experienced birth rape. She is quite possibly going to expereience birth trauma. A women who is severely affected by either pain and or/pain relief (e.g. pethadine) whose baby is stuck may have a caregiver come in, say nothing and explain nothing, manipulate her legs and insert forceps etc. Isn’t it a natural reaction to feel violated if your body is penetrated without your consent (or at the very least awareness).
I don’t think doctors/midwives are evil, I think they are life savers and are doing amazing work. In all professions, some people are not good at their jobs, a doctor with no bedside manner, who does not practice informed consent and who makes a women feel violated at her most vulnerable state may well be committing birth rape.
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Aside from this whole article making a heap of sense, I am so glad to read your stance on ‘birth rape.’ I have commented on many forums saying how offensive and unnecessary I find that term and I always get jumped on. So thanks, Mia, for once again being the awesome voice of reason. This article is why I keep coming back to MM.
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I believe there are cures for cancer, do you really think the corporations that control the US are ever going to give them to you? Why would they when they are making a FORTUNE off all the drugs they are feeding you? Educate yourselves before believing everything media corporations feed you….
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WHAT?!?!?!
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Don’t be so shocked Singleinoz. Waaayyy too many people really believe this.
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You’re correct. There are cures for cancer.
People go to hospitals everyday to be cured of cancer.
People also take vaccines to prevent themselves developing cancer later in life.
You should educate yourself before believing everything the lunatic fringe media feeds you.
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If those corporations *did* have a cure for cancer, I’m sure they’d find a way of monetising it.
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if Steve Jobs and Kerry Packer died from cancer then i believe there is NO cure. They were 2 hugely wealthy men who you would think would be in a position to buy a cure if there was one, yet they died of cancer.
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I’m pretty sure Kerry Packer died from a heart attack.
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It is believed Steve Jobs would be alive today if he’d taken up conventional chemotherapy, radiation and/or surgery when his cancer was first found, rather than going down the road of complementary therapies / meditation/ diet to cure his cancer for the first 9 months. In this short amount of time his cancer spread considerably. It’s such a waste of life and the perfect example of how complementary medicine/ therapies are just that – complementary and probably beneficial to a person’s mental well being…..however not a cure for cancer.
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If they actually had a cure for cancer then they could make more money off it than the treatment drugs, because people would be prepared to pay for it. Plus all the people who have refused treatment and therefore spent no money on ‘big pharma’ products would also be spending money if it were an actual cure. Sorry but do you really believe that someone has found a cure for cancer and not told anyone? I’m all for skepticism but that is a ridiculous claim that can’t be falsified either way. GRAB YOUR FOIL HAT! IT’S A CONSPIRACY!
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I’m sorry…but really, you should take your conspiracy theories elsewhere or put yourself in the shoes of a cancer sufferer of someone caring for them. Do you really think they want to be reading comments like this?
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So what is the cure?
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Ummmm…. because doctors still take the Hippocratic oath, don’t they? You know, the one that says they won’t do harm? Surely, this covers withholding safe and effective treatment from those in need?!
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Not exactly, because the original version has them swearing not to do surgery for kidney stones!
But adhere to them principle of ‘first do no harm’? Absolutely
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Oh Megan, what a crock!
Those kind of claims make no logical sense!!!
Think about it this way: So many people die of cancer every year that virtually every person in developed countries, doctors and cancer researchers–and, yes, even big pharma executives–included, have known, know, or will know someone with cancer. Many have seen or will see someone they love die of cancer, sometimes in horrific ways. Certainly over the more than four decades of my existence, I have had family members who have died of cancer.
Do you honestly think that any cancer researcher (or even big pharma executive) would withhold knowledge of such a “cure” or keep it from others if I knew of it?
Indeed, because cancer kills so many people, many of these very same doctors and researchers will end up battling the disease at some point in their lives, and many of them will end up dying of it themselves.
I might even end up dying of cancer someday.
You might end up dying of cancer someday.
Does it make any sort of sense logically that every single one of these doctors, executives, and bureaucrats would dismiss or conspire to suppress (or even blindly ignore the evidence for its existence because of dogma and “business as usual” of) such an amazingly effective cure, if it really existed?
No, it does not.
Someone would talk, probably a lot of people.
I know I would.
Again, given how cancer has touched our family, I assure you, if such a cure existed, back in my research days, I would make damned sure that family member got it, no matter what it was, and if it truly worked as advertised I would make sure everyone else knew about it too.
You can be sure that quite a few of those supposedly nefarious cancer researchers, government bureaucrats, and big pharma executives would too.
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So well written Mia. I heard the term “birth rape” this weekend and I was equally appalled and confused. As a mother of three I cannot understand why anyone would not want the security of a medical expert with them when bringing a baby into the world. Baffling.
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Firstly, yes, to the question about are there more offensive terms than birth rape. So many that are at least equally offensive. Where to start?
The rest of the article…I’m not sure what there is to add. The topic has been explored from so many angles and I could just about predict what the comments will be. I guess for me (as someone who has given birth in hospital three times) I find it worrying that women who describe their experience in that way would be discounted. We all make sense of situations in different ways. If they feel that violated, they feel that violated. And given the stats on sexual abuse I think it’s likely that some of the women saying this may have something to compare it to. I don’t think your comment “where on earth did these people get it into their heads…”adds anything to the conversation. Genuine comment, I think it’s inflammatory and unnecessary and sets up comments to be the same.
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Brilliant comment. Wish I’d made it!
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How very unfortunate!! I truly hope these people never find themselves in a situation where the EVIL medical ‘intervention’ might be needed to save their lives. And let me tell you, when a birth starts to go terribly wrong and they happen to SAVE your precious baby it is not ‘birth rape’ you will be crying about a medical miracle delivered by angels!!!
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This is yet another example of the weird anti-science movement in the world today…
We live in a world where we are surrounded by technological wonders, including modern medicine…if you’re reading this, you are experiencing many of them at once…telephony, computing, wireless technologies, the Internet, iPad or smartphone…I’m sure most people who sprout anti-science catch-phrases on the Internet are blissfully unaware of their hypocrisy…how can you on one hand enjoy all the privileges of the modern world, while giving the finger to the modern world and all its wonders with the other?
I’ve said this before – you cannot pick and choose which parts of science you want to believe in…I include medical science in this…if you don’t believe in man-made climate change, vaccinations or life-saving medical interventions, then hand over your smart-phone, turn off the TV, and disconnect the electricity.
The world is not one big bad of conspiracy theories…they don’t exist outside of Hollywood films starring Nicholas Cage…in the real world, Doctors and nurses and midwives are there to help you give birth as safely as possible. They are not the enemy.
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Always a voice of reason JJ. Larve ya work.
What he said. ^^
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Yes! 100% right John James!!! It’s the hypocrisy that I can’t cope with. I have a family member who is constantly ranting on the evils of Doctors. She has homebirthed, not vaccinated, enforced a strict vegetarian diet on her kids (never under the guidance of a nutritionist) and her children have never been given the age appropriate health checks (her youngest son is an EXTREME size for his age, think a year 3 boy wearing a year 9 school shirt). But despite the lectures we receive, she will give the kids panadol for a fever, antibiotics for infected ears, an X-ray for broken arms, her husband wears glasses, relies on anti-histamines as she suffers chronic hay fever and one child is on a waiting list for ear grommets which will involve an anesthetic. One child was also concieved through IVF. They also have every new gadget as it’s released, Wi-fi, TVs in all 3 kids bedrooms. She also smokes on and off. But no, she will tell anyone that’ll listen (not many people, she has no friends) what a “hippy, mother earth woman” she is. Um… No, you’re not even close. She is completely ignorant of science and medical research that has an effect on her life EVERY SINGLE DAY.
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While I agree with most of your comment, as a vegetarian I am confused by your assumption that the vegetarian diet is a dangerous one. I’ve been judged and dismissed and treated like an idiot for not eating meat while the person treating me that way eats mickey D’s, HJs, salami, chicken nuggets etc.
Yes a vegetarian diet can be unhealthy (if you were living off oreos and coke, absolutely it is) but so can an omnivorous one. To assume that one is eating poorly because one is a vegetarian is over-reaching.
Anyway… the rest would give me the shits also, so I agree. I will never understand why anyone smokes in this day and age, for starters! Let alone expose their kids to it. Grr!
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Sorry Sami, just to clarify, they have never seen a nutritionist/dietician as she believes “there’s nothing I don’t know about health” again, researching google for health information instead of relying on an educated qualified health professional. A friend of my husbands is a nutritionist and we sometimes ask her what she thinks on some of the “replacement for meat” foods/meals used in her kids diet and she is often concerned. Especially at some of her Internet research references. Its her ignorance to people that may be qualified to know better that is frustrating. My brother and his girlfriend are vegetarian, I have no issue or judgement with it. Hope that makes sense, no offence was intended
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Yep makes perfect sense! Sorry I misinterpreted there- I took it at face value. Although I sometimes eat those meat replacement foods for convenience sake I don’t deceive myself that they are actually healthy! I think along the same lines of unhealthy food in general. Knock yourself out on fruit/veg/pulses etc and then occasionally have some treat food so you don’t go completely crazy. It’s just common sense isn’t it? Though it’s far less common these days
It’s a bit of a worry! What can you do but hopefully help her kids out a bit when they’re older so they don’t fall into the same patterns?
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Actually “birth rape” is a rape that happens in a birth setting. Putting something in someone’s vagina without their consent is rape.
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Surely we need to look at the idea of intent. What is the intent of somebody inserting something into your vagina to ensure safe delivery of your baby? I think there is a world of difference between medical intervention and rape
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In the middle of labour I don’t know if I would have been capable of ‘consenting’ to anything.
But being in a hospital and surrounding myself with medical professionals is my consent to them doing whatever it takes to ensure the well-being of me and my baby.
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Totally agree with this – during parts of my labours you could have had a marching band of pygmy elephants parading through the suite and I would not have known. I was willing and able to put my trust in the midwives and doctors, have my husband as my advocate, and let what needed to happen, happen. Thank god I did – my daughter’s cord was knotted around her neck, she was purple and almost not breathing and were it not for the quick thinking of my doctor, I doubt she would be here. I have no issue with the fact that there were stirrups, forceps and a great deal of tearing/stitches involved. My daughter is 3.5 and worth every ounce of that pain.
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Me either! I remember having to sign consent to donate my son’s cord blood and I truly could have been signing anything! Luckily I was in the company of amazing nurses and doctors who had my best interests at heart and I completely trusted that I was signing something beneficial. I am a paediatric emergency nurse and I applaud you, Mia, for your bravery in voicing your opinions (all of which I share, particularly on parents who choose not to vaccinate).
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There are legal exceptions to your broad definition, Anonymous. The honest belief in consent, medical necessity and so on.
I understand that people may feel violated by invasive and unwanted medical treatment – but coining a term that associates it with sexual assault is just offensive and pathetic.
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Exactly.
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I had a c/s and bleed after bub was delivered. At one point I vaguely remember one Dr rubbing my tummy incredibly hard, the surgeon putting me in stirrups and pulling clots out of me while the anaethetist gave me drugs to help my pain and stop me passing out. I am grateful for this care as it meant I came through the birth alive. It disgusts me that people would class this as birth rape. How ungrateful and disgusting to do so.
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It is not rape. Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) states in several sections that medical purposes eg in birth are essentially a defence (in not as many words but thats the gist of it).
Obviously intent comes into it, however I think you would be hard pressed to find a case when the dr intended to sexually assault a woman whilst they are in the process of giving birth. You might not like hands/equipment put into you, however if the intent was to save the child/mothers/both life, then its not “birth rape”, or really, sexual assault.
I find it extremely frustrating that people throw around terms when they have no idea what the real legal meaning behind them is
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I think the point here, as there is in most things, is extremism is dangerous.
While I don’t believe that “doctors are evil” I also don’t believe that going to the emergency ward for every little sneeze, twinge or itch is also healthy. There are sick people in hospitals, and while they do their utmost to keep hospitals Pine O Clean fresh, germs, virus and the like will spread – and to those with compromised immune systems.
I personally think that we are a more hyperchondria-(ticall?) than we were a few generations ago. However, I totally support science and doctors for the amazing efforts to finding new cures and reasons why certain diseases exist!!
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Truth!
I self-medicate for a cold (lemon and honey, eucalyptus oil, vitamin C etc). I do not self-medicate for cancer.
There is a balance…
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