Friday, August 10, 2012

Cashing in on Cesarean?

Most women are hale and hearty and capable of an uncomplicated natural childbirth, yet surgical childbirths are increasing...

Any sort of experimentation with nature’s way always attracts attention and debate. Medicine in several ways has led to the triumph of human will over nature’s rules. But this time the world is divided over the delivery techniques of childbirth. Today, a mother can opt for a natural delivery or choose the surgical (Cesarean section) route, but a sharp increase in the latter method across the world has stirred widespread concern. While in the US, one in four children is born via Cesarean section (C-section), WHO has reported that one in five deliveries in India is by Cesarean too. Obstetrician David Campbell Walters in his book, Just Take it Out: The Ethics and Economics of Cesarean Section and Hysterectomy (1999) claims that in the US, ‘in 20 years, there will be no more vaginal births.’ If you look at Walters’ claim in light of the existing figures of C-section deliveries in metros like Mumbai and Delhi (20-25% C-section deliveries) and even in most provinces in China (where according to China Philanthropy Times, the average rate of Cesarean birth has reached 40 percent), his prophecy might actually become a reality in a large part of the world… But what is driving doctors and mothers-to-be to opt out of the natural vaginal delivery? Why do doctors like David Campbell Walters (though in minority) advocate that women be allowed to choose a pre-planned Cesarean?


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