A great deal of discussion regarding pregnant patients' rights has taken place in the United States.
[1] In the United States, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) acknowledged the legal obligation of physicians to obtain informed consent for procedures related to pregnancy and childbirth in 1974.
[2] A 1987 study found that, in the preceding decade, at least 22 hospitals in the United States sought direction from the courts regarding care for pregnant patients.
[4] 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.
Advocates endorse a pregnant patient's right to participate in medical decisions that may affect her well-being and that of her child.