Birth Trauma Advocacy Services

26/02/2026

22/02/2026

Cases like this raise serious questions about informed consent, clinical oversight, and the importance of evidence-based surgical decision-making, particularly in young women where fertility implications are significant.

A young Australian woman, Courtney, has shared her experience of undergoing seven gynaecological surgeries in her early twenties, which have since have allegedly left her medically infertile at the age of 28.

According to reporting by the ABC, multiple histopathology reports (tests done to show how much disease has been found and where), obtained following the procedures did not identify evidence of endometriosis. In one report, there was reference to a “… clinically insignificant amount of possible endometriosis”.

Despite these results, Courtney underwent extensive surgical treatment over a seven-year period. She reports being charged over $32,000 for seven surgeries to treat what the Gynaecologist incorrectly referred to as “severe endometriosis”. This included the removal of both of her ovaries and her uterus by the age of just 25.

Independent medical experts interviewed by the ABC have questioned whether the extent of surgical intervention was clinically justified.

The treating gynaecologist is currently under investigation by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). The Federal Health Minister has described the allegations as “physically sickening”.

Courtney has since spoken publicly about the long-term consequences of these procedures, including the loss of her ability to have biological children.

Read more about Courtney’s story here:

Pathology from Courtney's seven surgeries with Dr Simon Gordon repeatedly showed no signs of endometriosis. The surgeries left her medically infertile.

12/02/2026

Complications during labour and delivery can have a profound impact on both the mother and baby, leading to physical trauma, emotional distress, and long term health challenges. When things go wrong in those critical moments, it can transform what should be a joyful experience into one marked by fear, uncertainty, and lasting consequences for the family.

Mia, her family, and baby Ayla endured exactly this kind of heartbreaking ordeal, facing the emotional and physical toll that comes when labour and delivery take a devastating turn.

Unfortunately, Mia’s experience, reflects what many women and families are facing.

Lack of dedicated maternal and neonatal frameworks in the Northern Territory represents more than a policy gap - it poses a profound risk to the safety, equity, and outcomes of women and newborns.

Without guidelines, variation in care widens, preventable complications go unaddressed, and already vulnerable families face heightened danger during the most critical moments of pregnancy, birth, and the early days of life.

Catastrophic outcomes become more likely, not because clinicians lack skill, but because they are forced to navigate high stakes situations without structured support.

We are not questioning the expertise of our healthcare professionals, but even the most capable teams perform better, safer, and more consistently when they are supported by clear, streamlined guidelines. They are the steady hand that supports medical teams when pressure peaks and seconds matter.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1184622060323242

29/01/2026

Safer Care Victoria has released new birth care guidelines aimed at reducing birth trauma.

The framework reinforces:
✔ Genuine informed consent
✔ Respect for bodily autonomy
✔ Accountability when women’s rights are violated

This is a major step forward for preventing birth trauma and creating safer, more respectful births.

Read more on our website:
https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0x_Qt0

22/01/2026

Over recent weeks, deeply distressing reports have emerged from Toowoomba Hospital - reports of mothers experiencing obstetric violence, misdiagnosis, and surgical errors that have resulted in the death of a baby and another suffering permanent brain injury.

As someone who has spent my career supporting women and families affected by birth trauma, and in my role as Company Secretary of Birth Trauma Australia, these stories are heartbreaking. To the families who have suffered so greatly: my thoughts and deepest sympathies are with you.

It is simply not good enough. Women deserve maternity care that is safe, respectful, and competent. No family should endure preventable harm in one of life’s most vulnerable moments.

I stand with these women and families, and I will continue to advocate - both legally and through my work in the birth trauma sector - for accountability and systemic change. We owe it to every mother and every baby to do better.

- Emily Billiau, Principal

11/12/2025

https://www.thesun.co.uk/health/37430107/wife-died-11-days-after-birth-complaining-headaches/

A heartbreaking UK inquest has found that 32‑year‑old new mum Ilona Kazik received “inadequate care” before her death from a catastrophic brain bleed just days after giving birth.

Despite repeated hospital visits with high blood pressure and severe symptoms, crucial warning signs were missed. The coroner identified multiple failures, including incorrect risk categorisation and the administration of a contraindicated drug that likely contributed to her fatal haemorrhage.

Ilona’s family now hope her story drives urgent improvements in maternity care to prevent further tragedies.

If you’re worried your pregnancy care- especially around high blood pressure or pre‑eclampsia - was not properly managed, our team can offer a confidential consultation to discuss your options and help you seek the support you deserve.

Read our full blog post at www.birth-trama-law.com.au

A FIRST-time mum never got to hold her baby boy, as she died 11 days after giving birth to him. Ilona Kazik, 32, went to hospital twice before giving birth, complaining of headaches – but med…

23/11/2025

This is Mia’s story.

Mia’s story is one of strength in the face of preventable trauma. It also reveals a broader, urgent problem in our maternity care system: the need to recognise and treat preterm labour, and how a failure to recognise and treat preterm labour can alter a family’s entire future.

Mia entered the hospital for pregnancy care, expecting to feel supported, safe, and heard during one of the most important milestones of her life, her first pregnancy. Instead, she was met with repeated missed opportunities that changed her birth experience entirely.

The Northern Territory has no mandated clinical guidelines for preterm labour. Decisions are left to individual clinical judgment and families like Mia’s pay the price.

Mia shares her story not for sympathy, but for change.

No mother, no baby, and no family should ever endure what they have.

Our team here Birth Trauma Law are honoured to stand with Mia and her family. We are advocating for Mia and Ayla’s futures and fighting for reforms needed to ensure that this never happens again.

Statistics tell us that this is more than one story.

Preterm care guidelines are evidence-based protocols to improve outcomes for both mother and baby.

This is a call for the Northern Territory to act. To put in place the protections that every other jurisdiction recognises as essential. To ensure that no clinician is left without clear guidance, and no family is left to bear the consequences of a preventable failure.

The absence of guidelines is not just a gap in policy; it is a gap in safety, equity, and care.

Every baby, no matter where they’re born, deserves the same chance to survive and thrive.

Listen to Mia’s story now. A mother, a survivor, and now an advocate for change.

11/11/2025

Is it normal to feel like something went wrong during your birth even when doctors say everything was fine?

Your feelings are valid. Sometimes there are gaps between what families experience and what's documented in medical records.

Birth trauma isn't always about emergencies. It can include:

• Feelings of powerlessness during labour
• Lack of informed consent
• Care that didn't meet expected standards
• Unexpected outcomes without clear explanation.

If you're questioning your birth experience, those questions matter.
You have the right to:

✓ Access your complete medical records
✓ Seek a second medical opinion
✓ Understand what happened.

Your voice matters. If you'd like to understand your rights, we're here to help. Message us or visit our website for a free Birth Trauma Legal Rights Guide.

07/11/2025

*It Shouldn’t Be About Luck: The Reality of Maternity Care in the NT*

Across the Northern Territory, mothers are speaking out and their storied reveal a heartbreaking truth about the current state of maternity care.

At a recent maternal health forum in Darwin, local mothers shared their lived experiences, spanning across a few years, exposing deep cracks in the system:

Staff shortages at Royal Darwin Hospital and the closure of the city’s only private maternity ward.

Lack of continuity of care, with women seeing a different midwife or obstetrician at each visit, leaving problems unnoticed until it’s too late.

The devastating human cost, one mother lost her baby after repeatedly reporting decreased fetal movements to different staff. She shared: “I feel like… her voice was taken away from me.”

The forum also called for dedicated spaces for grieving families. Private, safe areas where loss can be acknowledged and trauma supported with dignity.

One mother described labouring in a hospital tearoom due to bed shortages. Her words cut deep:
“Some women aren’t that lucky…and it shouldn’t be about luck.”

This is more than a momentary crisis or a temporary strain on the system. Advocates say the voices demanding safer, more consistent maternity care “is getting louder and louder.”

At Birth Trauma Law, we stand with women who speak out, because every mother deserves care that is safe, respectful, and trauma-informed.
It should never come down to luck.

Read more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-03/our-birth-our-voice-maternal-health-forum-mother-maternity/105962312

Watch more: https://statics.teams.cdn.office.net/evergreen-assets/safelinks/2/atp-safelinks.html

Northern Territory Government

06/11/2025

✨ “There is no foot too small that it cannot leave an imprint in this world.” ✨

Every day, this message (which sits front and centre on my desk) reminds me why we do what we do — to stand beside women and families who have experienced birth trauma or loss, and to help ensure their stories are heard. 💗

At McInnes Wilson Lawyers, our Birth Trauma Law team are honoured to support those navigating some of life’s most difficult moments, advocating for care, accountability, and healing.

04/11/2025

🚨: Alleged assault in childbirth raises serious concerns

A first‐time mum in Queensland says she was subjected to a painful, non-consensual internal exam while in active labour at Toowoomba Base Hospital - despite repeatedly saying “No”.

The incident has triggered a criminal investigation by the Queensland Police Service and has reignited a broader debate about consent, trauma and maternity care in public hospitals.

💔 Here’s what’s at stake:

Unfortunately, this does not seem to be an isolated incident, with a rise in complaints across the nation about “obstetric violence” and deficient consent practices in maternity wards.

Whilst the Health Service involved says its own review found clinical and consent protocols were followed, Queensland Police have said that undertaking a thorough investigation is their top priority.

📣 What we need to talk about:

- How do we ensure truly informed consent during labour and birth?

- What safeguards are in place when a patient says “no” - especially in high-stress, time-sensitive settings?

- Are maternity services properly resourced, supervised and held accountable?

- How can women feel safe and respected in the very moment they bring new life into the world?

⚖️ How Birth Trauma Law can help:

At Birth Trauma Law, we support women and families who have suffered harm during pregnancy or childbirth - whether through medical negligence, a lack of informed consent, or traumatic treatment in hospital care. Our team understands the deeply personal nature of these experiences and works with compassion and discretion to help clients seek answers, accountability, and justice. If you believe your consent or safety was compromised during birth, you can reach out to us confidentially for guidance and support.

Share this story to raise awareness: consent in childbirth isn’t optional; it’s a fundamental human right.

A mother has claimed an “excruciating” procedure was performed without her consent while she was in labour at a Queensland hospital.

04/11/2025

Birth trauma affects 1 in 3 women, yet many suffer in silence.

💙 If you're supporting a partner through birth trauma recovery while considering legal options it's okay to seek answers. Understanding what happened can be part of healing, not just about legal outcomes.

Your partner's experience matters. Your family's wellbeing matters. You deserve to know what happened and why.

If you believe that you may have suffered or suffer birth trauma, contact our legal team for an initial consultation.