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.

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 &ndash; but the hospital refused to admit her until she&rsquo;d undergone a vaginal examination. For the hospital, this test is routine, but Gawthrop had been really clear in her birth plan &ndash; she&rsquo;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.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The court judgment that could change the treatment of Australian women giving birth

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