The Latest War on Women:
How Hospitals Have Adopted Policies of Sexual Assault and Mutilation
©Christine Olinger for Ladybug Flights-Body Image

Recently Southcoast Hospitals Group in southeastern Massachusetts came under harsh criticism when it instituted a policy that would no longer offer women the choice of delivering their babies vaginally if they previously delivered by Caesarean section. The Southcoast Hospitals Group includes Charlton in Fall River, St. Luke's in New Bedford and Tobey in Wareham. This larger medical conglomerate is just one more in a growing list of what are generally smaller hospitals enforcing this policy. These institutions claim to have dropped vaginal births after Caesareans, known as VBACs, as a result of lawsuits and more stringent guidelines requiring them to have a full emergency teams available. Administrators say these requirements are too expensive and impractical.

Let's think about the message here, shall we? Just when you thought you knew who the enemy was, just when you thought the most serious violation of reproductive rights involved abortion, a woman's right to choose, and the disparity in fair and equitable healthcare for women, this little curveball comes flying over the proverbial plate. What we are saying to women in these situations is this: your body can and will be carved up if it's convenient and cost effective whether you like it or not.

For those who would trot out the "go to a different hospital" argument, please bear in mind that insurers exert increasing control over such choices. Few women who have healthcare coverage can simply pick and choose physicians, facilities, and treatment options. In most cases only those in metropolitan areas have several hospitals from which to choose-- even here in New England, an area of dense medical activity, pardon the pun.

What this means, particularly if this trend continues to spread, is that women will be subject to having forced surgical invasions. While hospital administrators may simper and regret for reporters, the cold, hard truth of the matter is this is nothing more than legalized sexual mutilation, violation, and assault.

President George Bush signed the Unborn Victim of Crime Bill-- also known as the Lacy and Connor Bill-- into law in April of this year. Ironically, the bill protects women and their unborn children from unknown attackers, but not from trusted physicians. Women in many parts of the country are being forced put their lives, and the lives of their unborn children at risk. Women are being mutilated, assaulted, sexually disfigured as a result of abuse at the hands of those who are entrusted with their care-- insurance companies and physicians.

Where is the public outcry? Surely any trench-coated figure stalking an expectant mother through a dark alley is identified as evil. Should he carve the infant from her body, ignoring her pleas for mercy, we would be disgusted, outraged, distraught. Yet every day lab-coated figures stalk expectant mothers to delivery rooms, mutilate them against their will, and charge the insurance companies hefty fees for the procedures. Sexual assault is sexual assault. No means no. Our bodies belong to us, and the sovereignty of this personal freedom is either sacred or it isn't. It's time for hospitals, doctors, and HMOs to stop violating those they are sworn to help, support, and heal.