One last post for the day...

Wow, I'm not usually this loquacious. But this is one more thing that deserves attention, I believe, this time of the positive variety.

Star News of North Carolina included a story on June 4:

Doctor won’t make the cut
Feeling pressure from hospital for more c-sections, she leaves

The article reports that Dr. Helen Sandland of Wilmington, NC, had a cesarean section rate of under 10%. “Her philosophy, admittedly different from the mainstream, attracted many patients who wanted the best chance of having a vaginal delivery. Dr. Sandland became known as one of the few doctors in the area who would try to deliver breech babies naturally or pursue a vaginal birth with a woman who already had one child with a c-section. Her solo practice boomed.”

“A letter from New Hanover Regional Hospital’s “Professional Review Committee, stated “concerns” regarding her practice. They include higher than average infant birth weights, much lower than average c-section rates and later than average gestational age of neonates at delivery.” This would mean doubling her cesarean section rate to at least 20%.”

A second letter, from the acting chairman of the Credentials Committee, stated: “Your c-section rate is to be within an acceptable range as determined by the NHRMC OB/GYN Department with a plus or minus deviation of two.”

The article reports that “Mrs. Gerlach said the hospital charges $4,700 on average for noncomplicated vaginal deliveries and $14,200 for noncomplicated c-sections. Those amounts do not include doctor fees.”

The hospital claimed that Dr. Sandland’s low cesarean section rate increases the hospital’s vulnerability to liability lawsuits. However, no proof of this was offered, and the article also reported that Sandland does not have a problem with liability lawsuits.

According to the news article, rather than giving in to the hospital’s pressure, Dr. Sandland quit and is moving to Mississippi to practice with a colleague who has a practice philosophy similar to her own.

You can read the entire article at:
http://www.starnewso.....NEWS/50604016&SearchID=73210261396639
The newspaper site does require a free registration to view the article.

I just wanted to say GOOD for her. If only more OB/GYNS would have the guts to do this, and practise scientifically safe medicine instead of tradition, the world would be a much safer place for mothers and babies. I truly believe that.

Here's the good doctor's website.
http://www.drsandland.yourmd.com/

So, Dr Sandland, we salute you for being a REAL doctor and hero, one who puts the interests and safety of her patients first, as opposed to those of her bank account or collegues. What a woman!

Salut!