Comment & Controversy

An informed patient should be granted “cesarean on demand”

“DOCTOR, I WANT A C-SECTION.” HOW SHOULD YOU RESPOND?
BY CAREN M. STALBURG, MD, MA (MAY)

Every time I read an article written by an “expert” regarding cesarean section on demand, I roll my eyes. Dr. Stalburg regurgitates the tiresome ethics jargon, statistics, and recommendations from our infallible professional organizations. This is a classic illustration of the “town versus gown” phenomenon, in which academic physicians and community physicians most definitely do not see eye to eye. In this age of patient empowerment, does anyone really believe that an informed patient cannot determine the way her baby is delivered? To argue otherwise is old-fashioned paternalism.