Oh I really feel for your friend, I am happy that she is healthy and also her daughter, but to miss out on the birth she so wanted. I am sorry to say this but I do not believe that doctors have any need to be involved in birth. Giving birth is not a medical procedure it is the most natural thing in the world, Our bodies know how to birth our babies, you have explained very well how our pelvis changes and how the babies skull can actually change shape while being born. One a doctor becomes involved everything has to be done their way and that involves being done within a certain time frame.
If their is an emergency then that is different, but all too often women are deprived of the birth they wanted because of doctors wishes and interventions. I have written alot about this and it is something I am very passionate about.
Birth needs to be taken back. We do not need to look back too far in history to a time when birth was seen as a non medical intervention and happen out of hospitals.
I understand totally how you feel.