I don’t often get to say “I told you so,” but here’s a good opportunity. On another blog, I recently wrote about the correlation between rising c-section rates and rising medical malpractice insurance rates. Well, it turns out that a University of Connecticut researcher had been working on the same problem and came up with the same conclusion about the correlation between the two sets of data.
In studying the rates of c-sections and medical malpractice insurance rates, the researcher found that the rates were closely correlated for OB/GYNs practicing in Connecticut. The researcher deferred from claiming that one was the cause or the other, but he speculates that medical malpractice was leading c-section rates. He explained, “Most of the large malpractice cases result from a poor fetal outcome, that is, an expected ‘normal’ baby is born with health problems or has a bad outcome or whatever. The MDs get sued because they didn’t do all that was possible for the baby–meaning perform a cesarean.” Because of this, he attributes the rise in c-section rates to “defensive medicine,” one of the rallying points for tort reform.
Unfortunately, although the UConn researcher claims that “cesarean deliveries are less risky for the baby,” the truth is that doctors who are performing c-sections defensively are making a mistake. According to the definitive study of birth rate complications, the Towner study of nearly 600,000 live born singleton infants to first-time mothers, c-sections actually increase the risk of many different birth complications, including cerebral palsy and neonatal death. If doctors are practicing c-sections defensively, hopefully they will soon learn that defensive medicine is not just interventionist medicine. Sometimes it is best to leave well enough alone.
If you have been injured by a doctor as a result of overinterventionist treatment, contact an experienced Philadelphia birth injury lawyer at Pomerantz, Perlbergerger and Lewis, LLP today for a free initial consultation and case evaluation.
