They Didn’t Want to Have C-Sections. A Judge Would Decide How They Gave Birth.

In September 2024, Cherise Doyley, a pregnant woman in Jacksonville, Florida, was subjected to a court hearing in her hospital room to determine whether she would be forced to undergo a C-section. The hospital sought the emergency petition, arguing it was in the interest of her unborn child, despite Doyley's informed refusal due to prior complications and her desire to avoid surgery unless medically necessary. Judge Michael Kalil presided over the hearing, where Doyley, a professional doula, had no legal representation. This case highlights a disparity in Florida, where pregnant women's medical freedom is restricted compared to other competent adults, raising constitutional questions about fetal personhood and the right to refuse medical treatment, even surgery.