Link between rise in C-Sections and Malpractice Premiums
According to a University of Connecticut team of researchers there may be a link between the prevalence of cesarean section birth and the cost of medical malpractice premiums, claims Dr. Jeffrey Spencer a fellow in maternal fetal medicine. After a review of deliveries at the Harford Hospital between 1991 and 2005 the number of c-sections raised in line with the state’s increase in medical malpractice premiums. During that time, there were 64,767 deliveries, of which 15,021 (23 percent) were cesarean deliveries. Of the 15,021 cesarean deliveries, 8,045 (59.5 percent) were primary or first-time cesarean deliveries, while 6,076 (40.5 percent) were repeat cesarean deliveries. Over the same expanse of time the malpractice rates increased substantially. Normal vaginal delivery is considered safer than a c-section for both mother and baby. C-sections are only recommended when complications such as slow or long labor of fetal distress indications. “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 for whatever reason,” says Spencer. “The MDs get sued because they didn’t do all that was possible for the baby – meaning perform a cesarean.” Nationwide, cesarean deliveries accounted for 30.2 percent of all deliveries in 2005, compared to 20.7 percent of deliveries in 1996. The rising rate of cesarean deliveries has triggered a debate over whether the increase can be attributed to medical necessity.
