WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for October, 1997: Re: C-Section convenience? (was Re: Age of Placenta)

Re: C-Section convenience? (was Re: Age of Placenta)

From: D. Ashley Hill, M.D. (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 17 Oct 1997 15:03:25 -0500 (CDT)

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At Thu, 16 Oct 1997, Noelle wrote: >
>At Thu, 16 Oct 1997, Jennifer wrote:

. Turns out Dr. X had 5 women >>induced and performed 3 c-sections among that group. Dr. X. then
>>headed for a seminar in Florida the very next day.

>Hmmm....I realize that a sample size of 5 isn't much and that we don't
>know the individual cases of those 3 out of 5 women, but I have to
>ask....Does anyone else find this a tiny bit sleazy, or at least
>suspicious?

Depends. I'll bet he asked those patients whether they wanted an induction, or would rather take their chances on another (unknown) doctor delivering them over the weekend, and I'll bet every one of them chose the induction. I'm the least likely doctor in my group to induce labor for vague indications. However, I spend a considerable amount of vocal cord energy explaining to tearful and frustrated patients, many of them only 35-36 weeks pregnant, that I am not comfortable inducing them because they are "tired of being pregnant" or "feeling fat" or "swollen" or similar reasons. I feel very bad for them, but would feel worse if they ended up with a postpartum hysterectomy due to hemorrhage after undergoing a 3-day induction for what I feel is a medically unindicated reason. I hate to say it, but pregnancy is usually a 40 week contract. People *choose* to get pregnant, and it shouldn't be like ordering a pizza ("I'll take a girl, 7 pounds, on Monday November 4th"). Pregnancy can cause considerable discomfort but the risks of induction, in my opinion, do not justify haphazardly inducing every pregnant patient who asks for it. We have a professional duty to not due potentially harmful things to our patients unless the benefits clearly outweigh the benefits. Please note I'm not talking about medical reasons for ending a pregnancy, such as hypertension, diabetes, etc.

--
Ashley Hill
D. Ashley Hill, M.D.
Associate Director
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Florida Hospital Family Practice Residency
Orlando, FL
I apologize, but I am unable to answer personal e-mail
due to time constraints.

Next message: ECooperstein: "Selective Reduction"
Previous message: D. Ashley Hill, M.D.: "Re: The hymen and virginity"
In reply to: Noelle: "C-Section convenience? (was Re: Age of Placenta)"
Next in thread: Joel: "Re: Age of Placenta"

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