Saturday April 28, 2012, 5:51 am
Géreb's crime is to have spent the past 17 years quietly resisting Hungary's attempts to criminalise home births.

Against a background of escalating police harassment and abuse, Géreb helped deliver 3,500 babies at home, one of whom died some 14 months after a difficult labour, another as a result of shoulder dystocia (when the head has been born but one of the shoulders becomes stuck behind the mother's pelvic bone). A third infant died seven months after suffering a lack of oxygen at birth.

According to the World Health Organisation, Hungary's early neonatal mortality rate (babies aged 0-6 days) is five deaths in every 1,000 live births. By this measure, Géreb could have expected to see 17 or 18 babies – not three – die during her almost two decades as an independent midwife.

But because the government refuses to regulate independent midwives in Hungary, these cases triggered a criminal investigation and Géreb was found guilty of manslaughter, negligent malpractice and two other charges involving common obstetric occurrences.

Saturday April 28, 2012, 5:51 am
Noted.

I'm grateful, Rose, that you and others in the human rights group Slavery Today take time to bring us news items like this - educating us about situations worldwide.

Saturday April 28, 2012, 9:07 am
I agree with Thubten!!! Kudos to you, Rose!!! And kudos to this women who stands up!

Saturday April 28, 2012, 9:09 am
Noted,thanks Rose.

Saturday April 28, 2012, 9:18 am
Noted thank you Rose.
Kudos to brave Dr Agnes Géreb.

Saturday April 28, 2012, 1:32 pm
Noted thanks. Puzzled that the authorities are so harsh.

Saturday April 28, 2012, 4:08 pm
Noted, thanks Rose.

Sunday April 29, 2012, 10:15 pm
This is such an injustice. It seems the hospitals have to drum up more business. Actually, women should have the right to conduct childbirth any way they want to, as long as it isn't endangering anyone. Obviously, women and infants are more endangered it the hosptals than at home! Thanks Rose.

Monday May 7, 2012, 1:37 am
noted, gracias