Requires the department of health to develop and maternal health care providers to distribute written information about episiotomy to maternity patients

• Democratic9

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Samra Brouk says this is needed

Both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have recommended against the routine use of episiotomies for decades. Experts today agree that episiotomies are rarely ever medically necessary, can cause additional postpartum pain and injury, and increase the overall risk to mothers. Because of this, experts say that the national average rate should be 5 percent, yet in 2017, the national average was more than double the ideal rate at 12 percent. The average episiotomy rate in 2017 for all NYS hospitals was 10.4 percent, a rate lower than the national average but still substantially higher than ACOG and WHO recommendations. Within the state episiotomy rates vary greatly. In fact, in 2017 one hospital had one of the highest episiotomy rates in the country and the highest in New York State at a rate of 65.2 percent, with 748 women receiving an episiotomy out of 1,886 total births. In contrast, the best-performing New York hospital that year had an episiotomy rate of 2.5 percent. While episiotomies are rarely ever medically necessary, doctors may still perform episiotomies out of habit and convenience since the proce- dure can shorten the birthing process significantly.* More concerning is that an investigation by CUNY Graduate School of Journalism found that episiotomies are frequently performed without consent. ** Further, evidence shows that Black, Brown, and Indigenous populations are subject to non-consensual episiotomies at higher rates compared to White women. Providing information regarding episiotomies to pregnant people will ensure that they are aware this procedure is a possibility and under- stand the risks associated with it. The bill addresses issues of consent during delivery and enables pregnant people to discuss possible proce- dures with their providers and advocate for themselves during delivery. This bill directs the Commissioner of Health to establish a formal writ- ten communication or communications for a maternal health care provider to provide information to each maternal patient who plans to deliver vaginally to inform them about risks associated with episiotomies and how having an episiotomy may impact future pregnancies. By ensuring women understand the risks and impacts associated with episiotomies mothers can make more informed and autonomous decisions about their healthcare.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.