May 2008 Instant Poll Results

FAILED HOME BIRTH, NOW IN THE ED

You are at the hospital, caring for your patients in labor, when a 32-year-old G3P2 with two prior cesarean section deliveries is brought to the emergency department in labor after a failed home birth.

“Will you assume care for this woman?” the nursing administrator asks you. Quickly! What would you do?

7%  Refuse to accept responsibility for a high-risk patient whom you’ve never seen

,

29%  Assume her care and recommend cesarean section

46%  Assume her care and recommend cesarean section—plus, later, report the responsible midwife to the department of public health and her credentialing organization

18%  Agree to assume her care as long as the hospital’s attorney and risk management team indemnify you