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.
Weiniger
C F
CF
Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. weinigerc@softhome.net
Elchalal
U
U
Sprung
C L
CL
Weissman
C
C
Matot
I
I
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