Health Law

TIME Features Article on Cesarean Sections and VBAC

There is much debate regarding the high number of Cesarean sections performed in the United States each year, particularly because it’s a major surgery that is increasingly chosen out of convenience rather than necessity.

Once a woman has a C-section, she is usually forced to have the procedure for subsequent pregnancies because of the risks associated with what is known as VBAC (vaginal birth after C-section). VBAC can cause uterine rupture, oxygen deprivation to the baby (which can lead to brain damage and cerebral palsy) and even death.

According to an article in TIME Magazine, 1 in 2,000 babies die or suffer brain damage after VBAC – a statistic the author cites as low. However, one case of death or oxygen deprivation is one too many and these are the types of cases that can result in a medical malpractice lawsuit. Consequently, not a lot of doctors are willing to oversee a VBAC.

To read more about the ongoing debate and some of the issues confronting pregnant women, check out the article in the current issue of TIME Magazine online.


 

Full post as published by Cerebral Palsy Law Blog on February 22, 2009 (boomark / email).