International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia
Volume 15, Issue 2 , Pages 145-148, April 2006

Holy consent – a dilemma for medical staff when maternal consent is withheld for emergency caesarean section

  • C.F. Weiniger

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Carolyn Weiniger, MB ChB MRCA, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center POB 12000, Jerusalem 91120, Israel. Tel.: +972 2 6777269; Cell: +972 507 874059; fax: +972 8 9714244.
    • ,
  • U. Elchalal

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
    • ,
  • C.L. Sprung

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine
    • ,
  • C. Weissman

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine
    • ,
  • I. Matot

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine

Accepted 1 October 2005.

C.F. Weiniger MB ChB MRCA, Instructor, C.L. Sprung MD JD, Professor, C. Weissman MD, Professor and Chair, I. Matot MD, Senior Lecturer, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel, POB 12000; U. Elchalal MD, Senior Lecturer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel, POB 12000.

Summary 

A parturient (grand multipara) developed arrested labour complicated by severe fetal heart rate decelerations. Senior physicians explained the need for a caesarean section, but she chose to deliver vaginally since rabbinical blessing could not be obtained. Forcing the mother to have a cesarean section without consent is considered “civil battery.” The dilemma faced by medical staff and the implications of her refusal for the treating medical staff are described.

Keywords: Caesarean section, Maternal/fetal conflict, Refusal

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PII: S0959-289X(05)00155-X

doi:10.1016/j.ijoa.2005.10.002

International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia
Volume 15, Issue 2 , Pages 145-148, April 2006

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