California Watch, a reporting initiative from the Center for Investigative Reporting, issued a report stating that women giving birth at for-profit hospitals are at least 17% more likely to have c-sections than women at not-for-profit hospitals. The study used birth record data from 253 hospitals throughout California between 2005 and 2007.
Medical experts are uncertain why some hospitals perform more c-sections than others. However, skeptics insist for-profit hospitals might have a higher frequency of c-sections to increase their bottom line. According to a 2007 report from the Pacific Business Group on Health, California hospitals can increase their revenue by an average of 82% if they perform a c-section instead of a vaginal birth.
A spokesperson for the International Cesarean Awareness Network, which believes c-sections should be performed only when medically necessary, commented that the data strongly suggests a connection between profit and the high cesarean rates.
Most likely the majority of the c-sections in this study are scheduled for various reasons. Emergency c-sections could be an entirely different matter, and could be necessitated by medical malpractice that results in a birth injury. If you need a birth injury attorney, contact The Law Offices of Dr. Bruce G. Fagel and Associates, a law firm that only handles medical malpractice cases. Call 800/541-9376 or visit online at www.birthinjurydoctorlawyer.com.
