Psychological perinatal trauma – litigation as the solution?

Mattner H¹

¹Dr Heather Mattner Perinatal Health Psychologist

Biography:

Heather is a Perinatal Health Psychologist with an extensive background in perinatal health care, research, education, practice development and primary health care.

With a private Perinatal Psychology practice in Stirling, South Australia Heather sees approximately 100 women per month most of whom at any time are experiencing the profound consequences of perinatal trauma.

Heather is an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology, The University of Adelaide, Clinical Champion for PANDA and member of the Marce National Executive Committee.

Currently Heather’s involved in national workshops co-convened with a Consumer Advocate and Human Rights Lawyer on preventing birth trauma.

Psychological perinatal trauma – litigation as the solution?

Physiological pregnancy and birth in Australian litigation are associated with neonatal birth injury, maternal injury and death. A persisting corresponding enigma for the legal profession, an issue of contention for the obstetric professions (medical and midwifery) and a lifelong incapacity for Australian women (and their families) is perinatal psychological trauma. Its lack of recognition harms women and those with them, profoundly, as preventable yet sinister harm. Nothing will change until obstetric practices focus fully on prevention. Litigation can enable this necessary shift by pursuing perinatal psychological trauma as a legitimate claim for damage and compensation. The recognition of obstetric violence by the United Nations General Assembly (2019) as a human rights violation urges critical necessary change and a significant opportunity for the legal profession to instigate this for perinatal women. The aim of this presentation is to provoke intelligent debate regarding the way forward collaboratively.