There are various issues concerning health that do not go in line with some moral and religious backgrounds. Cesarean section is crucial in saving lives, but some teachings in religion do not allow a woman to have any other birth than the natural way. Due to the advancement in technology, the cesarean section can save the lives of the mother, the baby, or both. However, due to religious beliefs some women do not undergo the procedure, endangering their lives and that of the baby.
In circumstances where the woman does not consent to the operation, they may be forced to undergo it on legal grounds where the physicians prove that a natural birth would endanger either the baby or the mother’s life. The court in such a case intervenes and orders the operation to go ahead on the grounds of medically necessary cesarean (Katz, 2012). The cesarean section is quite safe but in some cases it leads to complications such as excessive bleeding, injury to the fetus and the mother may contract an infection. Further, the procedure may lead to blood clots, and the mother may even lose her life in extreme cases (Alanis, 2013). Cesarean section is ethically justified to save lives. In some cases, the doctors may perform the procedure on people who do not have any complications.
In conclusion, the woman in the case was justified to refuse a cesarean section on religious backgrounds. The physicians had no right to carry on with the procedure without her consent. However, the medical ethics hold that the medics should do everything possible to save lives. In this case, the court acted diligently in its ruling since the life of the unborn baby was in danger. The law sets in to solve moral issues like in that case since it is for a good cause. However, in the instances where the physicians show negligence in determining the need for cesarean section, the patients can sue them in a court of law as well.
REFERENCES
Alanis, Robinson (2013). Complications of cesarean delivery in the massively obese parturient. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 203(3), 271-e1
Katz, Droegemueller, W. (2012). Perimortem cesarean delivery. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 68(4), 571-576.
