A local woman missing- Mary Kubica

Jason. He only tells her what she wants to hear: that he’s going to
help get this baby out of her now.
But that’s not all. Because Shelby isn’t allowed the opportunity to
give informed consent before he cuts an episiotomy, using a pair of
scissors to cut her perineum instead of having it tear on its own, if at
all. An episiotomy should be an exception these days, not the norm.
And it should always come with a clear explanation of the possible
complications, of which there are many, from painful sex to fecal
incontinence. I’m appalled.
“Doctor,” I say tersely, but it’s too late, because it’s done.
He glares at me over my client, where I stand by her side, trying to
comfort her. “Would you like to wait in the hall?” he asks. I don’t
move.
He doesn’t look at Shelby when he speaks to her. “I’m going to get
this baby out of you. Sound good?” Shelby unleashes a scream with
the next contraction. Dr. Feingold finds humor in it. “I’ll take that as a
yes,” he says arrogantly. It makes me irate. The absence of a no
should never mean yes. I’ve worked hard to create a culture of
consent with my clients, especially in situations like this, where
Shelby is vulnerable and Dr. Feingold in a position of power. There
are risks in all manners of delivery. I know that. But a woman should
be made aware of these risks. She should be given the opportunity
to weigh the options for herself.
I see Dr. Feingold preparing the forceps for use. I won’t be
silenced. “There are possible complications to using forceps to aid in
delivery, Shelby,” I say, speaking quickly, urgently. I stand at the side
of the bed, leaned into her. I look in her eyes. Shelby is completely
spent. The exhaustion is tangible. She’d do anything for this delivery
to be through. “The worst being brain damage, skull fracture, death.
You should know this before—”
Dr. Feingold cuts me off. “Your doula,” he says smugly,
degradingly, “has no medical training. Are you going to listen to her
or me?”
Another contraction racks Shelby. “Just get this baby out of me!”
she screams.
Dr. Feingold takes that for consent. He applies forceps to the
baby’s head. He uses the forceps to first turn the baby’s head. With