Major abdominal surgery

May 27th, 2008 by Trish

“Any physician who picks up a scalpel and does major abdominal surgery, which is what a C-section is, because that doctor is afraid of litigation, is not practicing medicine but is practicing fear and greed,”

So says Marsden Wagner, perinatologist and former director of Women’s and Children’s Health for the World Health Organization, to the Washington Post this week.

Every time I hear about the C-section rates I am flabbergasted. How could this possibly be happening?! Why aren’t women getting angry? I mean, really really angry?

Here’s my own message to all the OB/GYNS out there: Grow some balls. Be brave enough to consider the health of your patients before you think about lawyers and the bottom line. Be brave enough to accept that birth can be noisy, messy and unscheduled. Embrace the natural mountains and valleys, the way things were meant to progress, not the sterilized and life-draining way they have become.

Every time I hear Marsden Wagner speak, he seems to me to be the voice of reason in the realm of birth.

Thanks to Pushed Birth for the link to the story.

4 Responses to “Major abdominal surgery”

I tried your “contact” but your address is not listing. I wanted to answer you question on my bar post directly to you. Thanks for your comment. Trei

Teri’s last blog post..Behind Bars = Freedom

# Teri on 28 May 2008 at 9:39 am
You can’t believe how out of control it is in Costa Rica. Midwives aren’t even legal (though we have them hiding out in the bushes!)

Susan’s last blog post..Even shopping in a barn can keep the clowns at bay

# Susan on 28 May 2008 at 10:31 am
Thanks for responding, Teri. I’m been bugging Arp to fix the Contact page, but we are busy busy busy here. I think that page broke after the upgrade.

# Trish on 30 May 2008 at 8:47 am
Hi Susan! I wasn’t under the impression that midwifery was illegal in Costa Rica. I’ve talked to several midwives that gave me other info. Although I do get the feeling that midwives are not generally practicing in hospitals. We are currently planning our homebirth in Costa Rica (yes, this is a little ahead of time, but I’m a big planner!) And no, we don’t even have a home in Costa Rica yet, but I’m confident we will.

# Trish on 30 May 2008 at 8:52 am