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The case against cesarean delivery on maternal request in labor
Paul Burcher1, Jazmine L Gabriel, Lisa Campo-Engelstein
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alden March Bioethics Institute, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA. BurcheP@amc.edu
Obstetrics and Gynecology
|August 8, 2013
Summary
Physicians should rarely perform cesarean deliveries without medical need during labor. Ensuring thorough informed consent is crucial for patient autonomy, even when declining requests.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Obstetrics
- Patient Autonomy
Background:
- Ethical considerations for obstetricians regarding patient requests for cesarean delivery without medical indication.
- The importance of informed consent in respecting patient autonomy.
Observation:
- Requests for cesarean delivery without maternal or fetal indication present ethical challenges.
- The timing of the request (before or during labor) influences ethical obligations.
Findings:
- Informed consent is paramount for cesarean delivery requests without indication during active labor.
- Physicians should seldom grant cesarean delivery requests made during active labor due to ethical concerns.
Implications:
- Declining a cesarean delivery request may seem to violate autonomy, but inadequate informed consent also infringes upon it.
- This highlights the complex balance between respecting patient autonomy and ensuring ethical medical practice in obstetrics.
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