Doctors in Louisiana are performing C-sections on unviable pregnancies

[Nevilledog]

Standard pregnancy care is now dangerously disrupted in Louisiana, report reveals

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/03/19/1239376395/louisiana-abortion-ban-dangerously-disrupting-pregnancy-miscarriage-care

*snip*

Unnecessary C-sections raise alarms

In one of the most extreme examples of how pregnancy care has changed, doctors described cases of women who experienced preterm premature rupture of membranes (when the "water breaks" early in pregnancy, before the fetus is viable). Some of these women were forced to undergo Cesarean section surgeries to empty their uterus and avoid infection, instead of receiving an abortion procedure or medication.

"Which is ludicrous, absolutely ludicrous," said Freehill. "The least safe thing that we do, no matter if it's early in pregnancy or full-term at your due date, is a C-section."

Describing one of these cases, Dr. Michele Heisler with Physicians for Human Rights explained that the C-section was done "to preserve the appearance of not doing an abortion."

The patient wasn't given a choice, she added.

A C-section is major abdominal surgery. NPR consulted three OB-GYNs who were not interviewed for the report, all of whom said a C-section in a case like this is not standard care. Compared to an abortion procedure or an induction, it carries far greater risks for increased hemorrhaging, compromised future fertility, and other complications.

*snip*


This is inhumane. I feel sick.

[MOMFUDSKI]

1. The white Christian men don't mind a

bit of slicing and dicing of the second-class womens. I am also sick.

[mercuryblues]

2. Holy fucking shit

Having a major surgery, like that, affects you for the rest of your life.

May they rot in trump's diaper.

[Nevilledog]

3. Besides the physical & medical effects are huge medical bills

[area51]

4. Not only is this horrifying,

but b/c of our for-profit, barely regulated insurance, wait 'til coverage denials start rolling in.

[Volaris]

25. That might could end up working in our favor.

Getting sued for not covering state or law required medical procedures when you'd rather pay for the less expensive option (obviously) a few dozen times will likely put health insurers squarely on our side against the religious loons who don't care about either the science of Healthcare OR the science of profit-driven capital economics.

[MiniMe]

5. OK, you got me

When I read the thread title, I thought you were talking about Los Angeles and I wouldn't think they would have to do that in CA

[Nevilledog]

6. I'll change it

[MiniMe]

11. You don't need to, it just made me do a double take

[Lonestarblue]

7. These crazy laws and procedures show just how much Republicans hate women.

And how little they care about their lives and health. C-secions require much longer recovery times, along with major hospital bills. These laws have made it virtually impossible for poor women to have needed reproductive healthcare, one of the reasons Louisiana has one of the highest maternal death rates in the country. Their rate is 39 per 100,000 births compared with 10 for California. The top 10 states with the highest maternal death rates are all Republican states with the exception of Arizona, which only elected a Democratic governor a couple of years ago but still has a wacko Republican Party in control of the legislature.

[Mossfern]

32. Not to mention

that it most likely mean that future pregnancies will need to be done by c-section.
I've had four and tried to go natural each time. The doctor said that another pregnancy may kill me so I told him to tie my tubes.

I assume that in Red states, women have more children than in Blue states. I'll go look it up and edit if needed. (I may be an outlier)

I was correct in my assumption: https://ifstudies.org/blog/the-conservative-fertility-advantage

[betsuni]

8. K&R

[Attilatheblond]

9. Women to whom this is happening should file a class action suit against the legislature & governor

for practicing medicine without medical licenses. They have put women in the position of having to deal with more invasive, dangerous, and debilitating medical treatment because of legislation that has band the safer, less debilitating medical procedures for their conditions.

[littlemissmartypants]

10. You're right, ND. This IS inhumane. We should all feel sick. ❤️

[IbogaProject]

12. DOJ should charge insurance fraud

Drag them into federal court and defend against an insurance fraud case. It's text book over treating.

[kimmylavin]

13. "The patient wasn't given a choice, she added."

WHAT THE FUCK?

This is just nightmare stuff.
I feel sick.

[Irish_Dem]

28. The choices aren't good ones. Surgery or die.

Or get an abortion and we all go to prison.

[hlthe2b]

14. Let's try a rectal approach to these male legislator's inguinal hernias and maybe remove that enlarged

prostate with an endoscope FROM THE MOUTH. Think I'm mad? Hell yes.

[Ilsa]

20. Inhumane.

the pain medication is usually only for 24 hours. A CS can cause a woman to be limited in activities for more than a week. Then there is the higher risk for infection. I'm in favor of giving them a taste of their own medicine.

[hlthe2b]

22. It is unethical and yes, inhumane to perform a highly invasive C-section unnecessarily for a

procedure readily completed vaginally (abortion) and WITHOUT alternative options offered. THAT is my point. Surely you get it?

And, no, the issue is not merely inadequate pain management, albeit that is a side issue. It is invasive procedures that increase the risk for blood loss, and postoperative complications including herniation, adhesions, surgical wound dehiscence-- and anesthetic complications including pulmonary emboli, renal injury, and more.

So, if you want to compare the scenarios, the highly invasive tongue-in-cheek options for male procedures are ON PAR--not merely the choice of analgesia post procedure.

[Diamond_Dog]

15. This is both sickening and infuriating!

How depraved are these males that force this horror on us!

[rockbluff botanist]

16. Step up insurance companies

And insurance companies are approving this???

[moonshinegnomie]

17. if a woman dies as a result

the legislators who passed the ban should be arrested on federal charges.

[Sky Jewels]

18. To the GQP-voting women of LA:

This is what comes of supporting Republicans in election after election. You’re just a worthless vessel now, not fully human. You voted against your own autonomy.

To all other women in the state: You have my deepest sympathies.

[usaf-vet]

19. You have to be kidding me the Fing idiots would force women into major surgery rather that a "simple" procedure.

I have scrubbed on both, and the difference is maddening.

In my mind, it is analogous to presenting in an ER with a frost-bitten toe, maybe even a gangrenous toe and the surgeon says they have to amputate the foot, not just the toe. That is just the way it is.

[Solly Mack]

21. I agree. Sick and inhumane.

[Raven123]

23. Huh? This doesn't make sense

A cesarean section is done to deliver a baby. If that’s the message they are trying to send, why not induce labor? Doing a cesarean section to avoid the appearance of performing an abortion and then broadcasting it is incomprehensible to me.

[lindysalsagal]

24. Insanity. This can't be america in the 21st century!

I'm not doubting the truth of your post: I'm just reacting to what would have seemed impossible a couple of years ago.

It's us or the effing bible, women. It's that simple. The religion is killing us.

[Freethinker65]

26. Sue the legislators that voted for this, and the Governor for signing it.

This does NOT meet standard of care (not to mention the needless emotional and physical trauma, misuse of medical professional's time, and waste operating room time).

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

27. sad

[Lars39]

29. Shit like this is why I don't think old men who are voting against

abortion and a woman’s right to choose should be allowed TURPS. Most men are very protective of their genitals, etc. They’re not going to like not being able to have a lifesaving procedure when they need it.

[Irish_Dem]

30. Women are being tortured and abused by the patriarchy.

This is unacceptable.

[Think. Again.]

31. We need to end the republican party.

[Warpy]

33. Torturing women seems to be the aim here

It isn't medical care in any sense of the word.

I suppose Christian patriarchs think this is a good "compromise," high risk major surgery followed by a prolonged recovery instead of standard medical care that can be done as a day surgery or with a one night hospital stay.

These people are pure evil.

[LymphocyteLover]

34. GODDAMMIT! THIS IS SICK!

:

[Mosby]

35. So doctors turned this in a money maker.

Not surprised at all.

[jmowreader]

45. I doubt they want this money

C-section is more expensive, requires more people, is pretty much a malpractice suit magnet, and either (1) the woman’s insurance company is going to negotiate all the profit out of it or (2) you’re dealing with an indigent patient who’s gonna wind up on the “we were not paid” chart in the hospital’s annual report.

[dlk]

36. This is an irrational standard of care based on political and religious zealotry that has no basis in medical science

They are intentionally harming women. If Republicans want to live in the Dark Ages, let them. However, they have no right to drag everyone else backward. Who do they think they are?

[cayugafalls]

37. People treated less than human that is who they are...it is only them that are worthy.

There is no HATE like Christian love.

[Timeflyer]

38. I second every commenter here.

[TBF]

39. So, white men can't be forced to wear a mask during a pandemic,

but they can force women into high-risk major surgery during pregnancy?

This is a fucking sick country.

[LuckyCharms]

43. +1

[ck4829]

40. This is disgusting

[malaise]

41. They really hate women

Further C Sections are very profitable for the medical industry

[Bluethroughu]

42. Malpractice.

[MontanaMama]

44. I fully expect insurance corporations to deny

payment for these procedures. What then? I must say that our primary concern should be the safety and well being of women. AND, now women are not only being carved on unnecessarily. But will list likely be saddled with medical debt.

[jmowreader]

46. So what you are saying is,..

Louisiana is still aborting unviable pregnancies, but they do it by chopping a huge hole in the patient.

Of course you do understand that if one of these rich Republican Christian zealots was facing an unviable pregnancy…”honey, don’t you think New York City looks like a great place for a vacation tomorrow?”

[Deep State Witch]

47. Also The Most Costly

C-Sections also cost more than a therapeutic abortion.

[Martin68]

48. A sickening consequence of the GOP's unconscionable stance one portion.

There is no limit to the pain they are willing to inflict on women in support of their fanatical religious beliefs.

[Zilli]

49. I'm wondering what happened to that pesky old Rule No 1,

First, do no harm. The state of Louisiana and it's medical professionals don't seem to have heard of that inconvenient little statement.

[Sgent]

52. The other option

is to let the mother keep the dead fetus in her until she is septic and sufferring life threatening disease to be able to legally abort it. There is no option for an abortion considering it is life in prison.

[Hekate]

50. This is monstrously abusive of women

[Iggo]

51. ....on women.

Fixed it.