Reports of nonconsensual surgeries on pregnant women — including Black women in active labor — expose a dangerous crisis in patient rights

For immediate release April 17 by president@flnow.org

Orlando, FL — April 2026 — The Florida National Organization for Women (FL NOW) is calling for urgent state and federal intervention following alarming reports that Florida hospitals have subjected pregnant women — including Black women — to nonconsensual Cesarean sections, in some cases using the courts to override a patient’s refusal while she was in active labor.

“These reports are horrifying,” said Julie Kent, President of FL NOW. “A pregnant woman in Florida was handed a tablet for a virtual court hearing during labor so the hospital could force a C- section she did not consent to. This is a violation of bodily autonomy, medical ethics, and basic human rights.”

Advocates warn that these cases are not isolated. They reflect a broader pattern of:

• Coercive medical practices

• Disproportionate harm to Black women

• Escalating fear among pregnant patients

• Hospitals invoking the courts to override patient decisions

These abuses are unfolding in the context of Florida’s increasingly restrictive reproductive health environment, where providers face legal uncertainty, and patients face shrinking access to care.

“Pregnant people in Florida are being treated as if they lose their civil rights the moment they enter a delivery room,” Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW said. “No one should be forced into major surgery against their will — especially not under threat of legal action. This is a severe violation of a woman’s civil rights. This will not be tolerated!”

FL NOW emphasizes that C-sections carry significant medical risks, including infection, hemorrhage, trauma, and long-term reproductive complications. When performed without consent, they also inflict profound psychological harm.

“This is state sanctioned violence against women,” Deland said. “And it is happening in a system already failing Black mothers at every turn. We have a past riddled with forced procedures, including the sterilization of women without their consent.”FL NOW is calling for immediate action, including:

• A statewide investigation into all cases of coerced or court ordered C-sections

• Clear legal protections affirming that pregnant people retain full bodily autonomy

• Oversight of hospital practices, including use of emergency court orders

• Mandatory reporting and transparency when patient consent is overridden

• Investment in Black maternal health and culturally competent care

• Accountability for institutions that violate patient rights

“Florida cannot claim to value life while stripping pregnant people of their autonomy and subjecting them to forced medical procedures,” Deland said. “We demand accountability, transparency, and immediate reform.”

FL NOW urges lawmakers, medical boards, and civil rights organizations to join in demanding an end to coercive obstetric practices and the protection of every Floridian’s right to safe, consensual medical care.

FL NOW remains steadfast in its commitment to reproductive justice, racial equity, and the fundamental right of every person to control their own body.

Media Contact: Debbie Deland, 407 234-6408, vp@flnow.org