Florida Hospital Seeks Court Order for C-Section During Woman's Active Labor in September 2024

Cherise Doyley, a professional birthing doula and mother of three, arrived at University of Florida Health Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, in active labor in September 2024. She planned to attempt a vaginal birth after previous cesarean sections. Hospital staff recommended a C-section due to concerns over the risk of uterine rupture, a complication where the uterus tears or breaks open.

Uterine rupture occurs in about 1 in 300 deliveries among individuals with one prior cesarean section and up to 9 in 300 among those with more than one, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Doyley assessed her personal risk as less than 2% and declined consent for a C-section without first attempting vaginal delivery.

Reports from ProPublica and People indicate that nurses then presented her with a tablet for a virtual court hearing involving a judge and other officials.

During Labor During the hearing, recorded and obtained by ProPublica, Doyley requested an African-American doctor for her care. " Doyley replied that Black patients statistically receive better care from providers who share their racial background. Maternal mortality rates for Black women are 3.5 times higher than for White women, with research attributing this in part to unconscious bias among healthcare providers.

A 2016 study found that nearly half of first- and second-year medical students believed Black patients have greater pain tolerance, thicker skin, and feel less pain than White patients. The judge ruled that the hospital could perform a C-section without Doyley's consent if an emergency arose but did not order an immediate procedure.

USA Today has reached out to the hospital for comment.

Aftermath Overnight, doctors observed a drop in the baby's heart rate, according to ProPublica. Doyley was taken into surgery for a C-section, resulting in the birth of her daughter. The newborn was subsequently admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit.

This case highlights tensions between patient autonomy and medical recommendations in high-risk pregnancies. Legal interventions in childbirth decisions remain rare but can arise when providers perceive imminent danger to mother or child. Affected parties include the patient, her newborn, hospital staff, and judicial participants.

Future proceedings or policy discussions on such cases could follow, though none are specified in available reports.