Turkey Turkish doctors face fines for elective caesareans

[WidowWadman]

www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/13/turkish-doctors-fines-elective-caesareans?INTCMP=SRCH

I find these news disturbing. Under the false premise that natural = better and protecting ickle women who don't know what's good for them from the nasty doctors who only want to make a profit choice is removed from women.

Who decides the threshold of what is an Emergency anyway? Will there be now an increased risk of damage to women and babies because the fear of legal redress means doctors will push for vaginal birth even if there are medical indications?

Yes it's very hard to get an elective in uk on non medical basis. I think women should have choice but I also think it depends on what is medically the better solution for your situation.

But the trouble is that choice of ELCS is labelled as "too posh to push" in the UK. Quite wrongly and unfairly. When you start looking at the research that is available or more to the point despite government recommendations, the lack research available (we lag behind a number of countries in this area - no prizes for guessing which liberal minded souls they are), the reality is hidden behind the tabloid headlines.

The truth is that requests for ELCS in this country are largely for medical reasons; its just that mental health reasons are very much ignored or viewed as inferior in some way. (And in many cases were caused by poor care and treatment first time round which is very preventable).

I DO agree that what is medically best for you needs to be the solution. The trouble is I don't think that is happening in this country. And it certainly isn't happening in Turkey. High ELCS rates do not indicate choice; they tend to reflect cultural views and beliefs rather than true freedom of information and choice for women.