I didn't think it was clear whether not having an episiotomy resulted in the death of that baby, just as it wasn't clear whether the equipment failure contributed either.

One thing I forgot. It's fine if some women don't care what happens to their bodies in the course of childbirth. Just as it's a woman's right to demand bodily autonomy, so it is to put that autonomy in someone else's hands. I don't debate that. BUT there is one large problem with some women not complaining or minding about assumed consent, that being the fact that because doctors are used to consent being forthcoming, or assumed, by their patients, it becomes routine to assume that the patient will comply with their wishes. So women that do demand autonomy are the minority, and because the feeling of trusting implicitly your OB seems to be the overriding attitude, women who feel they should have the right to informed consent at all times (and the right to refuse treatment) have their feelings on the matter belittled and dismissed by the HCP (and sometimes, other women) To me, when the dead mother/baby card is drawn, it blows an otherwise (generally) non life threatening situation out of proportion, and it insinuates that women who demand more for their births and bodies are selfishly putting themselves for an ideal, not demanding a basic right. This is my beef with assumed consent.