Posted on July 1 at 10:14 a.m.

Finally! Now let's hope it helps.

On Laws for Cell Phone Use While Driving Enacted Today

Posted on June 29 at 10:09 p.m.

Dear iwantavbac,

You make some great points! Please consider writing a letter to Cottage Hospital telling them what you say here, and if you would like to share it, you could post it to www.birthactioncoalition.com.

I went to their website to find the quote you mentioned and also found this about their birth center:

"24-hour Anesthesia coverage and services including Epidural anesthesia.

Our health care team is dedicated to making the birthing experience a safe, joyous and memorable occasion for you, your newborn and your family. The Birthing Center gives you a choice of birth methods and encourages family members to be present during birth. Birthing rooms are tastefully decorated and there's even a family room for family members who want to share in this happy event."

Wow, a choice of birth methods...as long as that choice is a C-section for over 30% of us. Sigh.

Anyhow, I do hope you will visit the birthactioncoalition website and consider writing a letter! Best of luck in your quest for a VBAC!!

On Families Protest Outside Cottage Hospital

Posted on June 25 at 4:32 p.m.

So are you saying decisions in medicine should be based on litigation fears, rather than what is best for patients?

Many doctors, including several in Santa Barbara, believe that VBAC is a safe option. Scientific studies (abstracts available on the ACOG website) show that VBAC is a reasonable and safe option for many women. The fact that the UK encourages VBACs and the Netherlands doesn't allow elective repeat cesareans for women with one cesarean attests to the safety of VBAC. And just a technicality, VBAC is not a procedure.

If patients have open discussions with their physicians about risks and benefits and feel they are making the best decision they can, they would be less likely to sue.

In any case, regardless of risk, any patient should have the right to refuse any procedure. This is a human rights issue.

I agree that the malpractice climate in this country is a mess and if doctors didn't have to fear law suits they might be able to practice differently. I understand that there are efforts underway to reform this and I whole-heartedly support them.

On Families Protest Outside Cottage Hospital