The heartbreaking story circulating online about a woman who lost her life during childbirth has once again exposed a dangerous myth that continues to kill women: the belief that a husband must consent before a woman can have a life-saving Caesarean section (CS). Let us be clear from the start:
A woman does not need her husband’s permission to undergo a Caesarean section.
She never has.
What Happened — and Why It Matters
According to the account, the woman had given birth to four girls in six years. During her fifth pregnancy, complications arose during labour, and doctors recommended a Caesarean section to save her life and the baby’s.
Her husband reportedly refused to come to the hospital or sign the consent form. Fearing his reaction and abandonment, the woman requested a vaginal delivery instead. She died during labour. The baby — another girl — was later pulled out.
This was not just a medical tragedy.
It was a systemic failure rooted in patriarchy, misinformation, fear, and delayed decision-making.
The Medical Truth: Consent Belongs to the Patient
From a medical and ethical standpoint, the only person required to consent to a Caesarean section is the woman herself — provided she is conscious and mentally capable of making decisions.
According to international medical ethics:
“Every competent adult has the right to make decisions about their own medical care, including surgical procedures.”
— World Medical Association, Declaration of Lisbon on the Rights of the Patient
A consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist explains it plainly:
“A Caesarean section is not a family decision — it is a medical decision made by the patient in consultation with her doctor. The woman is the patient. Not her husband.”
In emergencies, doctors are ethically and legally permitted to act without any consent if delay would cost the patient her life.
So Why Do Hospitals Still Ask for Husbands?
In many African settings, hospitals ask for a husband’s signature not because it is legally required, but because of:
- Cultural pressure
- Fear of backlash or violence from families
- Hospital policies designed to “protect staff”
- Misunderstanding of consent laws
This practice has no medical justification and often causes deadly delays.
Every Minute Counts in Labour
Childbirth emergencies escalate fast. Bleeding, uterine rupture, fetal distress, or obstructed labour can turn fatal within minutes.
Waiting for:
- a husband
- a pastor
- a Mallam
- a priest
- or a family elder
can mean the difference between life and death.
As one senior midwife put it:
“Labour does not wait for permission.”
The Gender Bias Behind the Tragedy
This story also highlights a deeper injustice: women being punished for giving birth to girls.
Scientifically, it is the man’s chromosome that determines the sex of the baby — not the woman. Yet women continue to bear blame, violence, abandonment, and pressure for something beyond their control.
What Women Must Know — and Do
- You have full authority over your body.
Marriage does not remove your right to consent. - Discuss birth options early.
Before your due date, talk to your doctor about:- emergency CS
- consent procedures
- what happens if complications arise
- Put it in writing if necessary.
Some women now include birth plans or advance consent notes in their hospital files. - Choose hospitals that respect women’s autonomy.
- Speak up — even when afraid.
Your life matters more than anyone’s pride, expectations, or cultural pressure.
What Health Institutions Must Do
- Stop enforcing informal consent practices
- Train staff on patient autonomy
- Protect women from coercion during labour
- Educate families that CS is not failure — it is lifesaving care
A Final Word
No woman should die because she waited for permission to live.
No woman should fear being abandoned for choosing survival.
No woman should believe her life is secondary in childbirth.
A woman is a full human being.
She can sign.
She can decide.
She can choose life.
At Just4WomenAfrica, we say this clearly and without apology:
When it comes to Caesarean sections, the woman’s consent is enough.
