Holy consent--a dilemma for medical staff when maternal consent is withheld for emergency caesarean section.
A parturient (grand multipara) developed arrested labour complicated by severe fetal heart rate decelerations. Senior physicians explained the need for a caesarean section, but she chose to deliver vaginally since rabbinical blessing could not be obtained. Forcing the mother to have a cesarean section without consent is considered "civil battery." The dilemma faced by medical staff and the implications of her refusal for the treating medical staff are described.
Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. weinigerc@softhome.net
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Weiniger
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Elchalal
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Sprung
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Weissman
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Matot
D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007557:Israel; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016104:Oligohydramnios / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012067:Religion; D016312:Treatment Refusal