Forced C-Section

[MineralMan]

8. All the more reason to have someone accompany you

through labor and birth. Someone who's not going through labor. I'm never comfortable with anyone I know going through any procedure without someone with them who has a power of attorney that covers situations where the patient can't effectively consent to things.

My wife does that with her mother. She doesn't have dementia, but can't remember a thing the doctor tells her, mostly because she doesn't understand the terminology. So, my wife accompanies her to all appointments and is with her anytime any decisions are going to be made. She'll carefully explain what the doctor is telling her mom, ask the necessary questions of the doctor or whoever, takes detailed notes, and makes sure my mother knows what is going on and what her choices are.

In my direct family, my sister is a nurse who was once head of nursing in a large hospital. She is there whenever my parents deal with doctors or are in the hospital. She was even there when I was in a coma after contracting viral encephalitis and probably saved my life by asking the right questions and not taking any bullshit answers from the hospital staff where I ended up.

People who may not be able to consent to things as a fully-informed person not under duress need to have a responsible person on hand who can help. That's my opinion.