Medical Coercion and Forced C-Sections: The Crisis Facing Black Mothers in the US

Medical coercion in the United States healthcare system continues to impact patients, with Black patients giving birth being twice as likely to face coercion and unwanted procedures during delivery.

A report by ProPublica has detailed the experiences of two Black women in Florida who were forced to undergo cesarean sections despite their explicit statements that they did not want the procedure.

One case involved Cherise Doyley, a birthing doula. ProPublica reported that the state filed an emergency petition, with both the state and the hospital seeking to force Doyley to undergo a C-section in the interest of her unborn child.

Doyley had expressed that she did not want a C-section unless a medical emergency occurred. During an online court hearing conducted from her hospital bedside while she was in labor, a judge ruled that she could continue to labor.

The judge further ruled that if an emergency arose, the hospital could operate regardless of Doyley’s wishes. Hours later, Doyley woke up to find herself being wheeled into surgery. Doctors stated that the baby’s heart rate had dropped for seven minutes overnight, resulting in a C-section birth.

Historical Context of Reproductive Coercion

These contemporary instances of medical coercion are situated within a broader history of reproductive violence and structural inequities facing Black women in the U.S. Healthcare system.

An analytical essay published in the International Journal for Equity in Health on November 5, 2025, examines the roots of medical mistrust among Black women from the antebellum period to the 21st century.

The research presents evidence that racialized and gendered violence, colonial medicine and structural inequities have shaped the medical experiences of Black women. The essay identifies medical mistrust as a rational and protective response to generations of exploitation.

Historical examples of this exploitation include:

• Forced breeding
• Involuntary sterilization
• Unethical experimentation

The research also notes that controlling images have been used to normalize systemic injustices and create barriers to equitable care.

Systemic Disparities in Maternal Health

The legacy of racialized medical abuse manifests in contemporary health disparities. Black women are more likely to experience infertility than white women and are more likely to undergo C-sections even when their medical situations are similar to those of white patients.

Current disparities are also evident in the following areas:

• Maternal mortality rates
• Reproductive autonomy
• Pain management

The International Journal for Equity in Health concludes that there is a critical need to address these health inequities and develop trustworthy healthcare systems for marginalized populations to combat the enduring impact of reproductive coercion.