When Patient Autonomy Meets Obstetric Reality

Why ethical frameworks reject forced cesareans, and why one rare case required it to save two lives.

A forced cesarean delivery, a delivery done without the pregnant woman’s consent, is one of the most ethically fraught interventions in medicine.

Ethical guidelines across obstetrics are clear and consistent: pregnant women should not be compelled to undergo a cesarean. ACOG’s Committee Opinion on refusal of recommended treatment argues that even when a…