There was a significant judgment in a Victorian court last week, one that is causing a great deal of controversy in the medical community.

The case centres on what happened when a woman presented to a regional hospital to give birth.
The woman, Larissa Gawthrop, was in labour – but the hospital refused to admit her until she’d undergone a vaginal examination. For the hospital, this test is routine, but Gawthrop had been really clear in her birth plan – she’d only consent to an examination if there was an urgent medical reason.

What happened next, according to the court decision, was tantamount to assault, and the judge awarded Gawthrop $275,000 in damages.

Today, senior writer Wendy Tuohy discusses the landmark case and its implications for the medical community.