Report finds disrespect, ignored pain in NYC hospital births

A new Irth assessment of New York City’s 20 most-reviewed birthing hospitals, based on nearly 2,000 reviews, finds widespread reports of disrespect and lack of consent during childbirth. The findings add pressure on hospitals as advocates push for safer, more accountable maternity care for Black and Brown families.

Why it matters: - The report points to persistent gaps in maternity care quality at New York City hospitals, especially around respect, consent and response to pain. - Nearly 60% of participants reported concerning behavior from hospital staff, a level that suggests more than isolated bad experiences. - The findings matter most for Black and Brown birthing people, who remain the focus of the assessment and its safety concerns.

What happened: - Irth released the NYC Hospital Safety Assessment and Birth Experience Report, a community-powered review of maternity care in New York City. - The report evaluated the city’s 20 most-reviewed birthing hospitals using nearly 2,000 reviews. - The assessment centered on feedback from Black and Brown birthing people and New York City birth workers. - The report said the data revealed patterns of disrespect and lack of consent during childbirth.

The details: - Reported staff behavior included condescending comments, dismissed pain, lack of eye contact, ignored requests for help and refused requests for help. - Some participants said they were forced to accept unwanted treatment. - Irth described the effort as a first-of-its-kind assessment of hospital performance built from community experience. - The report is designed to examine performance across key safety and birth-experience domains. - Founder Kimberly Seals Allers said the project was meant to help families share stories to keep one another safe and use those stories to drive systems change. - Irth is a nonprofit doctor and hospital rating and review platform focused on Black and Brown birthing people. - Irth is the signature technology initiative of Narrative Nation, a New York City-based Black-led nonprofit focused on racial disparities in maternal and infant health. - More information is available at Irth’s website.

Between the lines: - The report reframes childbirth safety as more than clinical outcomes alone. - It suggests that hospital accountability also depends on whether patients feel heard, respected and able to consent to care. - The focus on community reviews signals a shift toward patient-reported data as a tool for measuring maternity care quality.

What’s next: - Irth will announce additional findings from the safety assessment at an event on Friday, October 30, 2026. - A panel discussion will follow with Dr. Uche Blackstock, Kimberly Seals Allers, Christy Turlington Burns and Naturi Naughton-Lewis. - The event is set for 10:00 a.m. ET at Civic Hall, 124 East 14th Street, New York City. - Media interviews will be available before and after the program, with advance scheduling encouraged.