What legal and ethical considerations are involved in decisions on cesarean delivery?
The task force included representatives from the many disciplines involved in cesarean childbirth. Members gathered data for a preliminary report and met following formal presentations and discussions at the conference to assess the issues based on the evidence presented. This summary is the result of their deliberations. The rising cesarean birth rate is a matter of concern. The consensus statement reflects the judgment that this trend of rising cesarean birth rates may be stopped and perhaps reversed, while continuing to make improvements in maternal and fetal outcomes, the goal of clinical obstetrics today. The constructive steps that may be taken and goals for further research are recorded herein.
