[Surgery During Pregnancy - Regulations and Requirements]

Due to the marked increase in the numbers of women in medicine, professional and political discussions on equality among doctors are gaining increasing attention. One such issue is "operating during pregnancy". As a result of existing legislation and federal regulations, it has been virtually impossible for pregnant surgeons to continue their surgical work. After approval by the Federal Council or Bundesrat, the revised Maternity Protection Act will come into force on 01.01.2018. It will thereafter be easier for surgeons to operate during pregnancy. The focus will now be on the transformation of workplace practices, in which individual risk assessments of the participating surgeons will be carried out in order to achieve a risk-adapted operation, and thus to prevent premature and unwanted restrictions on the employment of pregnant female surgeons.