SA:Women have right to choose home births

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2011
SA:Women have right to choose home births

An inquest into the deaths of two babies in South Australia has been told a woman's
right to choose a home birth is supreme, even in cases where the added risk of a breach
birth is possible.

Deputy South Australian coroner ANTHONY SCHAPEL is inquiring into the deaths of babies
TATE SPENCER-KOCH and JAHLI JEAN HOBBS during home births in 2007 and 2009, both involving
the same private midwife, LISA BARRETT.

Associate Professor HANNAH DAHLEN, from the Australian College of Midwives and who
also works as a private midwife, says she wouldn't do a breach birth at home, saying they'd
be considered in the category where a hospital delivery was advised.

But Professor DAHLEN says the final decision ultimately rests with the mother whose
autonomy is supreme.



JAHLI was known to be in the breach position prior to delivery and was unresponsive
when she was born, while TATE presented head first, but her shoulders became stuck and
was also unresponsive by the time she was fully delivered.

The inquest is continuing.

AAP RTV tjd/psm/

KEYWORD: GIRLS (ADELAIDE)

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