Last week, National Advocates for Pregnant Women (NAPW) filed an amicus brief (“friend of the court”) in support of Rinat Dray in her ongoing fight for justice following unconsented and forced cesarean surgery at Northwell Health’s Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH).
Since 1914, New York State Courts have recognized that “Every human being of adult years and sound mind has a right to determine what shall be done with his own body.
NAPW recently sent a thank you letter to New York State Attorney General Letitia James to thank her for her efforts to ensure women across New York and the nation are able to access safe, legal abortions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health crisis as part of the multistate coalition of 21 attorneys general.
Download: BIRTH RIGHTS
National Advocates for Pregnant Women
Download as a PDF file
The coronavirus pandemic, and our country’s lack of preparedness for it, give us an opportunity to make important observations and learn (or relearn) key lessons.
December 21, 2018
Both supporters and opponents of Alabama Amendment 2 (on the ballot November 2018) described it as a constitutional amendment that would remove all protection for abortion from the Alabama State Constitution. But NAPW recognized that Amendment 2 in its own words would do much more than just impact abortion: Amendment 2 would make it state policy--under all of Alabama's laws--to "recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children.
December 21, 2018
NY: Rinat Dray v. Staten Island University Hospital et al. (Supreme Court Appellate Division 2d Dep't)
Alabama’s Ballot Measure Would Impact All Pregnant Women and People Who Want to Be Pregnant
Voters in Alabama must defeat Amendment 2. The ballot measure’s supporters claim that it will only impact abortion. But Amendment 2 would make it state policy—under all of Alabama’s laws—to “recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children.
On April 4, 2018, a mid-level New York appeals court ruled against Rinat Dray, reminding us of the enormous challenges women face when they seek redress for obstetric violence through the court system.
In this case Ms. Dray had gone to Staten Island University Hospital to deliver her third child.
Rinat Dray, was forced to have cesarean surgery over her express objections. With NAPW’s help, Ms. Dray obtained significant media coverage of her situation and filed a lawsuit against the hospital and two physicians. In its defense, the hospital argues that since a woman in New York can be prohibited from having an abortion after a certain point in her pregnancy, she may also be denied every other right including the right to bodily integrity and the right to refuse surgery.
