NICU nurses have been accused of racism, bullying and goading parents into emotional outbursts so they can involve child protection services as a “power play”.

The allegations are outlined in a 27-page guideline for NICU parents written by the Maternity Consumer Network, a patient advocacy group founded a decade ago, with a focus on the impact of birth trauma on women. 

The new guideline was described as “a consumer-led advocacy resource”, with the network acknowledging that it is not clinical or research-based nor a replacement for medical, psychological or legal advice.

“This guideline is designed to support families in navigating the [NICU], particularly in situations involving inappropriate child protection reports, unnecessary medical treatment, misogynistic pathologisation, and medical racism,” the introduction reads.