[Patient-requested caesarean section--a legal perspective]

Some women ask for a caesarean delivery for personal, not medical reasons. Physicians are not obliged to perform an intervention where the medical necessity is lacking. But similar to cosmetic surgery, this intervention is legitimate if there are no health-related contraindications on the part of the mother and if she is able to give her informed consent. The physician has the burden of proof that the patient has been provided with the necessary information on the possible outcomes and risks of the surgical procedure. It is unclear whether statutory health insurance has to pay the costs of this intervention.