Access to epidurals is a largely cultural thing.
There are several countries in the world which its is regarded as standard and that not having one is viewed as somewhat primitive.
You would think that if it was the epidurals that were causing the problem, that this would form a very clear and identifiable pattern. The fact it doesn't seem to and there is a lot of conflicting evidence on the matter instead suggests that either there are a hell of a lot of flawed studies or that there is no correlation. Or both.
Is this really an acceptable state of mind for a person to be in when making a choice about such an invasive medication, with potential for immediate and long-term side-effects? Or should the decision be made by a medical professional?
Fortunately the laws of consent in this country, do mean that women are regarded as being capable of making informed decisions of their own and are not deemed incapable of doing so whilst in labour. The implications of suggesting that women are not capable of this are extremely concerning. I also find it ironic that you seem to suggest that women could consent to other drugs whilst in labour though - without considering the side effects of these alternatives. Your thinking is simply in-cohesive and biased, not to mention extremely paternalistic.
As for doctors making decisions about pain relief there is also another problem in that doctors are completely unable to decide the level of pain an individual is feeling as it is very much a personal measurement. People do not feel pain in the same way as the next person, and have varying levels of ability to cope with pain. In all other areas of medicine they are primarily driven by feedback from the patient in their decision making over pain relief; it is a guided decision based on input and communication from the patient that a doctor does not make alone. Nor should they. Ironically if they did, they could give more drugs than are necessary to patients who do not need that level of medication. So why should labour be any different?
As for long term side-effects, you are neglecting the fact that there is plenty of evidence that actively denying access to pain relief on demand can potentially have enormous consequences and is a leading cause of birth related trauma and long term psychological problems. This is an area of care that is only just being explored and unfortunately isn't being given the consideration it desires by a lot of people. Its easy just to trot out crap about "women have been giving birth for thousands of years and coped" - except the evidence is increasingly suggesting that women don't and didn't actually cope - they simply lacked the choice and the ability to express how deeply it affected they. And thank fuck we are now living at a time where those taboos are being broken.
Just because you look back on your birth and think "I didn't care what happened to me, had I had a switch to push, I would have chosen death over continuing with that level of pain for another hour. Which is obviously ridiculous...now." is not true of a lot of other women. They are unable to process the experience and suffer flashback and other post traumatic symptoms.
Equally, comparing denying anti-biotics for viral illnesses is utterly absurd! You are talking about drugs for an illness which will have no effect with an anaesthetic which is recommended as appropriate and fit for that particular purpose. Its a comparison which really does show you are talking out your backside.
Going back to the original subject of ELCS, I do think that making sure epidurals are available would be one way of helping women give birth and not have an ELCS. Yet many are going for the more extreme option of an ELCS because this is not being taken seriously enough. Its sad that they don't have this choice which may be right for them. It may not be, but the fact the default suggestion is surgery is quite strange.
I have to say that over all the real key issue is this lack of understanding about the psychological aspects of birth, with emphasis put far too much on the psychical which is leading to devastating consequences for some women and their subsequent appalling treatment by completely insensitive and ignorant HCPs as well as friends and family.
I think the OP is completely within her rights to ask for an ELCS. Asking for an ELCS does not automatically mean she will eventually decide to have one. My hospital take the attitude of not refusing requests, but instead viewing a request as a need to extra support to find out where the problem really lies. Its about putting the woman back in control and feeling able to make decisions freely and be listened to with respect. The system seems to be beneficial as not all women who request an ELCS ultimately end up having one as a result by their choice and thus find it empowering.
All in all it suggests that being consulted, informing, listening and making decisions together with HCP rather than arbitrary decisions forced on women is extremely important in more than one way. I don't see why there is even a debate on this though...