title: Intervention in childbirth: should we allow women to choose?
abstract: The issue of whether women should be able to choose to give birth by caesarean section in the absence of pregnancy complications remains a controversial topic. To explore the issues and allow the public the opportunity to voice their views, academics at Bournemouth University organised a public debate on the pros and cons of allowing women free choice with regard to intervention. Two teams, each with a well-known user representative, an experienced practitioner and an academic, debated the motion: "This house believes that women should be able to choose caesarean section on demand." This paper reports the debate and the public vote on the motion.
authors.affiliation: Bourenemouth University.
authors.forename: Vanora
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hundley
authors.affiliation: NCT.
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Phipps
authors.affiliation: Birth Trauma Association.
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Treadwell
authors.affiliation: Portsmoth Hospital NHS Trust.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.affiliation: Bournemouth University.
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Teijlingen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003657:Decision Making; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D006113:United Kingdom; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult