The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that national authorities have "considerable room for maneuver" with regard to home birth regulations. The issue was raised by a complaint against the Czech Republic by two women who wished to avoid unnecessary medical intervention in delivering their babies. The applicants complained that under Czech law, they were forced to give birth in a hospital if they wished to be assisted by a midwife. In a 12-5 ruling, the Strasbourg court judges held that there had been no violation of Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life) of the ECHR.