Petition For Truth regarding the benefits of vaginal birth vs. elective cesarean surgery
- Target:
- American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Region:
- United States of America
- Website:
- www.petitionfortruth.com
February 20, 2004
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology has released a statement which addresses the ethics of decision making regarding elective, or on-demand, cesarean surgery.
ACOG notes in the statement that although a number of factors influence such decision making, ultimately the decision will come down to the patients concerns and the physicians understanding of the procedures risks and benefits.
However, ACOG also states that it is unclear whether or not a patient has the right to have a surgical procedure when there is no evidence to support the procedure, and makes no statement regarding a physicians responsibility to specifically inform the patient of the benefits of not having the procedure.
Meanwhile, the CDC reports that the cesarean rate has risen to 26.1%, the VBAC rate has dropped 23%, and maternal and newborn mortality rates are on the rise, due to the frequent complications associated with cesarean surgery.
Women are not being given the whole story when it comes to the safety and benefits of a vaginal birth for them and their baby. To see the statement, and these rates:
http://www.acog.org/from_home/publications/press_releases/nr10-31-03-1.cfm
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/releases/03news/lowbirth.htm
We are Mothers, Fathers, Children, Grandparents, and Birth Professionals.
We are petitioning the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology to embrace the truth surrounding the benefits of vaginal birth vs. elective cesarean surgery to the mother and baby, and ask that the truth take precedence regarding physician Ethics of Decision Making.
We feel that the risks of cesarean surgery, elective or not, are well substantiated and ask that ACOG promote the well-known benefits of vaginal delivery, while encouraging physicians to do the same in all cases where there is no medically proven barrier to vaginal delivery.
We feel that physicians are ethically obligated to inform their patients that the benefits of vaginal birth for the mother and baby always outweigh the risks of elective cesarean surgery.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Petition For Truth regarding the benefits of vaginal birth vs. elective cesarean surgery petition to American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology was written by Kelly Sishc-Haack and is in the category Health at GoPetition.