So, currently considering my birth plan and VBAC intentions and a thought has popped in to my head. I am only asking this out of curiosity but was hoping some people know the answer.

If I go in to hospital and end up with a doctor who wants me to have a particular procedure done and I refuse, at what point do they wash their hands of me? I figure they would have to get me to sign something, but what happens if I don't? There are lots of variables to this question I know, such as is it a minor ar major procedure, is mine or baby's life or health at risk etc

I'd like to know the answers to all the scenarios, but to just to give a starting point here is an example which is kind of where this question has stemmed from.

My Ob is supporting my VBAC, but he went through a few conditions that are usually put in place such as labour must progress, continuous monitoring and a bung in my arm. They are fairly standard procedures for VBACs especially through the private system. I am ok (not thrilled) with the first two, but I really really don't want the bung in my arm. My Ob seems to be ok with this after a discussion, but he gave me the heads up that if he just happened to be off-duty when I go in to labour and I fall under the care of one of his colleagues then they will insist on it to the point where they will be quite rude about it.

So, if this happens and I end up with a different Ob and they do start to get rude and insistent about this procedure, I know what to expect. The way I see it is the bung is a "break glass in case of emergency" procedure, not one to have just because. So if I refuse, they can't stick it in my arm, but if they still insist and I still refuse what happens next? If I threaten to walk out of the hospital without signing any discharge papers can they stop me? Would they stop me? How would they stop me? Can I demand another Ob? I know I can demand another MW.....

See lots of questions and variables.... I am not expecting to do any of this, but am just wondering to what point can something like this escalate?