Membrane Sweeping--Assistance or Assault?

Here are a list of provoking articles on the topic of an all-too common medical procedure of which the side effects are not usually known to pregnant women:

Does it work?
A Cochrane review of membrane sweeping suggests that this procedure provides little clinical benefit. For the minuscule benefits it may offer, it also carries a much larger amount of risks, including prelabor rupture of membranes (rupture of membranes before the onset of labor and occurs) which can result in complications including emergency c-sections.
http://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Fulltext/2008/06000/The_Effect_of_Membrane_Sweeping_on_Prelabor.11.aspx?WT.mc_id=HPxADx20100319xMP

Being Done Without Consent
Membrane Sweeps Without Permission--A much too common form of assault?

This blogger describes the all-too common practice of obstetricians conducting membrane sweeps without permission and says:

If this woman were in an empty parking lot at midnight, loading her car with groceries and approached by a stranger who attempted to rape her, this would be assault. But because the man is her obstetrician, that's supposed to make it okay, I guess.

Unless you bring this up first with your ob, chances are likely that it could happen to you as well. . . Read the rest of the article here:
http://thederangedhousewifeonline.blogspot.com/2011/02/obstetrical-bs-series-membrane-sweeps.html

It's Unnecessarily Dangerous!
This article discusses the dangers of labor induction procedures, such as stripping membranes, and how they greatly increase the likelihood of c-section and dangerous complications.
http://www.dare-to-give-birth-naturally.com/labor-induction.html

Stripping the membranes have been determined to be the cause behind healthy babies' deaths.  These “simple” procedures are dangerous as they cause a mom’s body and a baby that’s not ready to be born to be born anyway.  Pregnant women, especially those with Group B strep, should adamantly refuse this procedure before doctors can do it without consent.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CYD/is_20_36/ai_80744157/

This is just another way doctors make childbirth revolve around their schedule for their own convenience.  Please do your research before allowing this to be done to you.