Is non-directive counseling for patient choice cesarean delivery ethically justified?
The current controversy concerning patient choice cesarean delivery potentially affects all women of child-bearing age and the physicians who care for them. The purpose of this paper is to address three salient issues within the patient choice cesarean delivery controversy. First, is performing patient choice cesarean delivery consistent with good professional medical practice? Second, how should physicians respond to or counsel patients who request patient choice cesarean delivery? And, third, should patient choice cesarean delivery be routinely offered to all pregnant women?
Kalish
Robin B
RB
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NYPH, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
McCullough
Laurence B
LB
Chervenak
Frank A
FA
D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000941:ethics*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003376:Counseling / Q000941:ethics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011247:Pregnancy; D011364:Professional Practice