Ethics of Pushing for C-Sections?

[iridium54]

Hey Everyone,

I wasn't sure under which forum to post this, so I went with the safest bet under "General Nursing." I have to write a nursing school admissions essay and write about a current ethical or moral healthcare issue and how it may change or affect nurses. The essay is to be 400-600 words, which isn't all that many words truthfully.

I have had a difficult time narrowing down a topic, as there are so many ethical healthcare issues, but I want to write about something that truly interests me. I'm really interested in women's health and I thought about doing something with abortion, but that seems too controversial. I looked into birthing issues and was doing some reading on home births vs. hospital births where I found an interesting article on the increasing number of c-sections in our country. Some are claiming that the numbers are tied to doctors and hospitals pushing for these procedures as they are better for profits. I know I just grossly generalized the issue there, but that was the simplest way I could put it.

I guess my question is, do you think this is a valid ethical concern for nurses? Moreover, it seems like there isn't much nurses can really do about it, correct? I read in one article that nurses have been written up when complaining to administrators that doctors have been rushing the patient. Ugh, I feel overwhelmed because these are such big issues and there is so much to write about. . . . Any thoughts?

[iridium54]

Thanks so much, these are all great comments. I have seen that book Pushed by Jennifer Block and was planning to go check it out at Borders to use in the essay. I have not seen Born in the USA but I have heard great things about it (fascinating and infuriating at the same time).

I guess in regards to either issue (VBAC and Baby Doe laws), nurses are affected in that they have to somehow remain an advocate for the patient, while also complying with laws and regulations of the government and institution they work for?

[melek23]

I think that insurance companies should change C-sections to an elective procedure unless of course it is medically inevitable. If out of pocket expenses were increased for voluntary C-sections many would think twice about it.

I completely understand that in some cases C-sections are absolutely necessary but in a lot of cases they are not. In order to keep healthcare costs down insurance companies need to review their coverage options for voluntary (convenience) c-sections.

Just my 2 cents.

[tralalaRN]

Thanks, this is quite interesting, too. Please do send info along, if even just for my own reading (though this may be easier to condense into a short essay, so I may use it, too).

Here's a good link that is relatively short and to the point regarding Baby Doe Legislation. http://markleehunter.free.fr/babydoe.html

Also, you may want to do a search on "Sidney Miller" - this case was just horrendous - parents did not want their 23 week gestation infant treated at birth, but wanted to allow nature to take it's course, hospital ignored them, intervened against their wishes, took infant to NICU where she spent months, now is very severely disabled d/t brain damage. Parents have been on 60 Minutes among other news programs talking about their daughter's torture to life, and aftermath of her initial NICU tx.

A book of interest would be "Baby At Risk" - The Uncertain Legacies of Medical Miracles for Babies, Families and Society by Ruth Levy Guyer. I guarantee after reading this book, you'll look very differently at NICU care as it is practiced in the U.S. today. I had used this book for an ethics presentation during my last year of nursing school, and it created quite a lot of discussion in the classroom. One gal was currently pregnant and was just astounded that parents have basically no rights under Baby Doe laws. .no one, including the instructor had heard of this law.

Anyway, best of luck to you!

[rivsmom]

How did you do with your essay? I need help!! I need to do the same thing for admissions process..

[iridium54]

How did you do with your essay? I need help!! I need to do the same thing for admissions process..

Ugh, well the worst part about this is that I actually never wrote about the C-section topic! It just seemed too overwhelming in such a short essay and I was running short on time, so I wrote about universal healthcare as an ethical issue and how it could effect nurses (more specifically the health care act sponsored by Obama). Yes, still a huge topic, but I felt more familiar with it and like I could bang it out pretty quickly. Have not yet heard whether I have been admitted to that school, though, so we'll see how well it worked for me lol. Good luck!

[rivsmom]

can you email me privately want to ask you [email protected]