Maternity Care Informed Consent Practices and Perspectives: A Qualitative Study at a Tertiary Maternity Unit

One hundred per cent of participants (18 obstetricians, 4 midwives) described risk communication/informed consent practices that were non-complaint with the standards set out in the 2020 NSW Consent Manual. Eighty-three per cent (15/18) of obstetricians reported that current hospital-wide maternity care practices in risk communication/informed consent are inadequate. Sixty-one per cent (11/18) of obstetricians specifically singled out informed consent practices regarding instrumental birth to be inadequate. Ninety-four per cent (17/18) of obstetricians believe that maternity care consent practices need to be improved. The results of this study indicate that material risks of vaginal birth, caesarean section and instrumental birth, are not routinely disclosed during antenatal courses. Urgent resources and structural change are required to uphold women's legal right to bodily autonomy.