Expectant mothers often prefer natural birth, but in critical cases, a caesarean section is essential for the baby's health.
In Medisch Contact, two experienced judges and gynecologists argue that physicians should seek court approval for a C-section when it's medically vital.
This isn't about overriding maternal choice entirely—rather, it ensures intervention when refusal endangers the child. Courts, judges, and specialists must have authority in these rare scenarios.
Such cases are uncommon: at Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, they occur just 2-3 times a year. Current laws leave doctors helpless, sometimes leading to infant death.
