Care Without Consent

Catherine's Story - Montfort Hospital, Ottawa

"The nurse gave me an internal exam which confirmed the location of the baby. A doctor then gave me the same exam to reconfirm the location of the baby. Then, a third doctor gave me the same exam yet again, this time without requesting my consent. She was examining me for what seemed like a long time, even joking around with her colleagues while inside of me. I was getting more and more anxious, knowing that this was increasing the risk of infection."

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M's Story - Sudbury Memorial Hospital, Sudbury

"It's been nearly nine years since the birth of my daughter, and although I've moved on from the birth experience I had, listening to the traumatic birth stories of others has made me want to share my own. I really hope that doctors and hospitals end up reading these stories to improve the care that they give to women giving birth in the future."

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K.M.'s Story - Royal Victoria Hospital, Barrie

"I woke up from my c-section to be told that I had a boy. They would not answer me as to where he was or if he was okay. I asked at least 3 times. It wasn't until I asked if he was alive that they answered that he was okay"


"My records showed that the doctor had performed a cervix check prior to waking me up to announce me needing a c-section. I have no memory of this cervix check. I was asleep, He apparently requested consent from me while I was asleep."

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S.P.'s Story - Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, Orillia

"Never has anyone treated me like [that doctor] did! I have been the victim of sexual assault in the past, and even that did not compare to how [she] treated me or how it made me feel. I repeatedly asked her to stop the exam, give me a moment, etc., all of which she ignored. She continued forcefully with the exam, while I cried and writhed in agony. "

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