In re A.C.

It was the first American appellate court case decided against a forced Caesarean section, although the decision was issued after the fatal procedure was performed.

[1] Physicians performed a Caesarean section upon patient Angela Carder (née Stoner) without informed consent in an unsuccessful attempt to save the life of her baby.

[2] Carder was referred to George Washington University Hospital's high-risk pregnancy clinic during her fifteenth week due to her medical history.

[2] During a routine hospital visit on June 9, 1987, Carder received an X ray due to complaints of back pain and shortness of breath.

[3] Evidence to the court hypothesized that the fetus currently had a fifty to sixty percent chance of survival, which would decrease if the procedure was delayed.

Given the apparent change in circumstances, Carder's family and attorney attempted to gain a stay of proceedings from the judge, but the request was denied.

[1] In the wake of the surgery, Carder's family and the American Civil Liberties Union's Reproductive Freedom Project asked the D.C. Court of Appeals to vacate the order and its legal precedent, on grounds that the order had violated Carder's right to informed consent and her constitutional rights of privacy and bodily integrity.

[4] In re A.C. is commonly lauded as a victory for women's rights, but it did not grant absolute autonomy of a woman against procedures ordered by the state.