Back when they used to allow video cameras in hospital rooms for births you used to be able to see what actually happened. Lots of cases where they give the drip of pitocin, then when it kicks in and the pain is so great and the woman can't control any of it, they have a soothing dr come in and ask as many times as it take if they need an epidural. Yes its a choice, but I wouldnt' really call it a free choice, they tend to try and direct and steer you to the answer they want.
and they DO force things one you. A very good friend of mine had a birthing plan, discussed the plan with the DR multiple times and was very clear that NO drugs were to be given. Guess what they found out weeks later when they got the bill from the hospital??? She recieved and was charged for a slow drip of pitocin in an IV after the birth.
This has nothing to do with births, but I was in an ER for stitches under my eye a couple years ago from a game of flag football. Never hurt other than sprained ankles in all my years of football, baseball and wrestling, but one game of flag football sends me to the er with a split open face, go figure. anyway, they kept telling me that I needed a tetnus shot, I refused. I didn't need one. the BacT that causes it is found in dirt, is anaerobic and would not live on the face of another human being. That's what caused my open wound. we hit head to head. There was no punture of the skin by something buried in the ground, and usually that bacT is found around horse and cow crap, I was in a city park. Anyway, I was educated and new my rights and as they put the towel over my face and the Dr started stitching, he stopped and told the nurse to "give him that before I get going anymore" and BAM, nailed me with a tetanus shot. So things aren't always a choice, that and most of america feels intimidated questioning their Dr's, especially the older generation cause they were brought up not too, right or wrong, its how it is.