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You spend your pregnancy researching and planning for when your baby finally arrives, as well as considering what might happen if things don't go according to plan.

But as overstretched hospitals rush women through labor and discharge them early where possible, you might be left with less choice than you expected.

In recent years, parliamentary inquiries in New South Wales and Tasmania have investigated the mistreatment of women during childbirth, showing how ignoring their right to autonomy and informed consent contributes to physical and mental trauma.

Thousands of submissions and testimonies described a lack of autonomy, disrespect and coercion into unwanted birth interventions.

Women from minority groups (including First Nations, migrant, refugee, lesbian, nonbinary, single and disabled women) are even more vulnerable to discrimination, coercion and lack of autonomy.

Providers must obtain informed consent before performing treatment. Even in genuine emergencies, a conscious patient has the final say.

Informed consent makes permissible medical treatment that would otherwise constitute civil and criminal assault or battery.

Pregnant women have the right to refuse any proposed medical treatment or intervention without having to justify their reasons.

Australian courts have consistently declined to override a competent pregnant woman's refusal of treatment, even if it means putting herself or the fetus at risk.

As NSW Health notes, "Women have the right to give, withhold or withdraw consent at any time, for any reason, even when that decision has the potential to lead to harm to themselves or their unborn babies.

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