Very good news and reassuring that at least at the academic level evidenced based reasoning and common sense have prevailed. Please read the initial statement from the National Institute of Health on VBAC:
http://www.nih.gov/news/health/mar2010/od-10.htm
The conference was a worthwhile experience and I believe the panel members have the most honest of intentions. I am so glad I went. I hope some of you followed the webcast and if not, it will be up soon through the NIH website. My take on the conference was that it is clear from the presentations and the panelist conclusions that there is no convincing evidence that VBAC is inherantly unsafe nor is it ethically a choice that should be denied to any informed woman. While I do not think there is a snowball's chance in hell it will cause any immediate effect on hospital policy, I do believe if disseminated to patients they can make a convincing argument to their local hospitals that they cannot be forced into surgery and have the right of informed refusal.
One of the most compelling points of the conference to me was the following. ACOG's 1999 statement No.5 changing the word readily to immediately available was not based on any evidence. It was likely done to give ACOG members legal cover in cases where compliance was maintained and still a bad outcome ensued. The result was no real protection against the fear or reality of a disastrous law suit and only fed the fear which led to VBAC bans at more than 30% of American hospitals. Amazingly, neither before ACOG came out with the "immediate" guideline or in the ten years since has there been any studies undertaken that have ever shown that having emergency help immediately available has done anything to lower the incidence of cerebral palsy, neonatal death or maternal morbidity over the "readily" available (30 minutes decision to incision) standard! It is horrifying for me to actually learn that so many of these repeat c/sections were inflicted on women based on nothing but fear and economics. My profession should be ashamed of our cowardice.
I will post a link to the final NIH consensus statement when it appears. The BAC website and VBACfacts are also a great resource to follow the story. Spread the word!
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" Edmund Burke, 18th century Philospher.
"A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of it being right." Thomas Paine
"The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants." Albert Camus
"A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of it being right." Thomas Paine
"The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants." Albert Camus
"Choice is the essence of ethics: if there were no choice there would be no ethics, no good, no evil; good and evil have meaning only insofar as man is free to choose." Margaret Thatcher, March 14, 1977
Explaining the Cause
Summary of what is happening now.
I am a practicing obstetrician who is a strong supporter of patients rights to informed consent and refusal. I believe a patient has the right to choose her own path given true and not skewed informed consent. Following that tenet, just as a woman should be able to choose to have an elective c/section she should be able to choose not to have one, as well. The American system of hospital based obstetric practice has been eroding those choices for women for quite some time. Due to concerns of economics, expediency and fears of litigation women are being coerced to make choices that may not be in their best interest.
I have had a long relationship collaborating with midwives and find the midwifery model of care to be evidenced based and successful. I was well trained at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in the mid 80's to perform breech deliveries, twin deliveries, operative vaginal deliveries and VBACs, and despite evidence supporting their continued value, hospitals are "banning" these options. Organized medicine is also doing its best to restrict the availability of access to midwives.
This scenario is happening all over the country. Small practices with small voices are being coerced. The purpose of this blog is to reach out for support and to gather together as one loud, unshakable voice. To do this will require a coordinated effort and I will need your help. Please ask questions of your local hospitals, write letters to support or protest what they are doing, write your legislators, contact the media and send me your ideas. A grass roots effort against large forces will require a united effort. I believe the health of the future mothers in our country is worth it. Thank you, Dr. F
I am a practicing obstetrician who is a strong supporter of patients rights to informed consent and refusal. I believe a patient has the right to choose her own path given true and not skewed informed consent. Following that tenet, just as a woman should be able to choose to have an elective c/section she should be able to choose not to have one, as well. The American system of hospital based obstetric practice has been eroding those choices for women for quite some time. Due to concerns of economics, expediency and fears of litigation women are being coerced to make choices that may not be in their best interest.
I have had a long relationship collaborating with midwives and find the midwifery model of care to be evidenced based and successful. I was well trained at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in the mid 80's to perform breech deliveries, twin deliveries, operative vaginal deliveries and VBACs, and despite evidence supporting their continued value, hospitals are "banning" these options. Organized medicine is also doing its best to restrict the availability of access to midwives.
This scenario is happening all over the country. Small practices with small voices are being coerced. The purpose of this blog is to reach out for support and to gather together as one loud, unshakable voice. To do this will require a coordinated effort and I will need your help. Please ask questions of your local hospitals, write letters to support or protest what they are doing, write your legislators, contact the media and send me your ideas. A grass roots effort against large forces will require a united effort. I believe the health of the future mothers in our country is worth it. Thank you, Dr. F
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
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Thank you for being brave enough to say it like it is, Dr. Fishbein. YOU (and a rare few others) make the profession of Obstetrics proud.
ReplyDeleteIf only evidence would convince policy makers. Thank you for continuing to shed light.
ReplyDelete