They Didn’t Want to Have C-Sections. A Judge Would Decide How They Gave Birth.
Quick Insights
The Bottom Line
A Florida judge forced a Black woman to have surgery against her will during active labor.
How This Affects You
Pregnant women in Florida can be legally forced to undergo medical procedures they refuse, overriding their consent rights.
AI Summary
A Florida judge ordered Cherise Doyley to undergo a cesarean section against her wishes during a three-hour courtroom hearing conducted via tablet from her hospital bed while she was in active labor on September 9, 2024. The University of Florida Health hospital in Jacksonville sought the emergency court petition, with the state attorney's office arguing they had a compelling interest in preserving the life of Doyley's unborn child, overriding her right as a birthing doula to refuse the surgery after three previous C-sections. The case represents part of Florida's broader fetal personhood movement that allows courts to force medical procedures on pregnant patients, the only medical condition where the state can override a competent adult's treatment decisions. Legal experts identified a similar court-ordered C-section case involving another Black woman in Florida just 18 months earlier, with lawyers noting higher rates of forced cesareans in the state compared to others. The Florida Legislature is currently considering a bill that would further enshrine fetal personhood in state law, potentially leading to more court interventions during childbirth.
What's Being Done
The Florida Legislature is considering a bill to further expand fetal personhood laws.
Following this story?
Get notified when new coverage appears
This article is part of a story we're tracking:
Should this be getting more attention?
You Might Have Missed
Related stories from different sources and perspectives
FinanceJudge pushes back timeline for tariff refunds
A federal judge gave the Trump administration some breathing room to process tariff refunds after Customs and Border Protection (CBP) indicated it needed 45 days to set up an automated system. U.S. Court of International Trade Judge Richard Eaton had ordered immediate compliance, but he pushed back the timeline after fielding CBP officials’ concerns at a Friday hearing. The judge has now ordered a…
Civil RightsAlabama governor commutes death sentence of man who didn’t kill anyone - The Washington Post
Civil RightsAlabama judge dismisses lawsuit over a 2023 Taser death as bodycam video is unsealed - AP News
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMingFBVV95cUxOMnNQald4OEJDMWFHQlVzQm5PTFhJQS1wN2hoUUpsZVY5QmRjWUtRZXlRZlVIRHV6SzRiNk40d3diTEYtR2I1RGhUX1Y5YkMwZmNvUGRhdGtEdXVPcWQwdFNta0tmUWRfMnUzTk1tSzA4aFpKdDVqbElPRWExQlhKNm1hbEpiejVUUWRvQU1vT1VWRTdJVnVkMnlsdXdlQQ?oc=5" target="_blank">Alabama judge dismisses lawsuit over a 2023 Taser death as bodycam video is unsealed</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>
Civil RightsJudge denies restraining order for conservative media figures who sought press passes - AP News
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiogFBVV95cUxQWGRKQTh6LURYX0J1THBsSFdpMURfNDMwaHB1NmdwVFh6M3FzRENPTENxOTlmNDZWRWwyd0RSLVA5Q09Fd3VoM01sTkpUcTZFa2F3SmswX0R3dF9jZkRqWk4tMVR1RlRqS296WmRRaGFTeFIzQkVOWVZEanhzLTBlM2RXaU9KWTZaV1RhQ0FGbEFpVko1VmpqSlZVNG5rQ2Ytc2c?oc=5" target="_blank">Judge denies restraining order for conservative media figures who sought press passes</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>
Civil RightsFailure of a lifetime: Mom called 911 from kidnapper's car. It still didn't save her - USA Today
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitAFBVV95cUxONkJtbl9LTGlIN042SHFNbHUwTHVpUDVaMjFYbVpLRmJDNUVMWEM3VWNJb3VmTGdiSGxFRWswSnBEZk5FZC1PVE8zUllhUnNPNmE2R3lIblY3UzhpYUFGaWJEa1U4RjVQVVZhdFBIOWJNdWsyZGtRbFZxVmxheTdBclZ6RVpPbXJ2cVRlelVUU1otQUozNTB0Uzl4Z3pJcHRYQ3hyQm8ySFR0NGozM2pIc3NIdFQ?oc=5" target="_blank">Failure of a lifetime: Mom called 911 from kidnapper's car. It still didn't save her</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">USA Today</font>
Civil RightsAnother 3 members of Iran's women's soccer team decide against staying in Australia as refugees
Another three members of the Iran's women's soccer team who accepted refugee visas to stay in Australia have decided to return to their homeland, an Australian government minister said on Sunday.
Anti-ICE Protesters Convicted on Terrorism Charges for Wearing All Black
The government won on most of its charges, including convicting defendants for moving a box of radical zines. The post Anti-ICE Protesters Convicted on Terrorism Charges for Wearing All Black appeared first on The Intercept .
Did this story change how you see things?
Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.
The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.
See our sourcesMost Read This Week
Whitmer's office calls for probe into why weather service didn't issue tornado watch - The Detroit News
Defense official reveals how AI chatbots could be used for targeting decisions
Rubio designates Afghanistan as ‘state sponsor of wrongful detention’
Senate Democrat calls for investigation into Texas drone incidents
WADA to weigh barring Trump, US officials from LA Olympics and possibly World Cup over unpaid dues - AP News
