The authors describe a rare case of Perimortem Cesarean Section, performed on an ambulance in an external hospital emergency call, with survival of the fetus in the immediate future and a year from the event (without neurological deficiencies). This fact is analyzed both from a legal (according to the Italian law) and ethical-deontological aspect. In particular: the behaviour of a non specialist in obstetrics in a non-hospital environment, the role of international guidelines (conceived for the intra-hospital environment) and the value given to the evaluation of the chances of the mother's survival are analyzed. The authors, in accordance with international guidelines, affirm that the fetus survival is strictly related to the mother's life, thus consider it a priority to make sure that the mother gets all the cures recommended by the protocol, saving the Perimortem Caesarean Section in a non-hospital environment in those cases in which the evaluation of the mother's chances to survive are equal or close to zero (emphasis on the attempt to save the fetus) or to those cases in which the evacuation of the fetus could re-establish the mother's cardio-circulatory activity (attempt to save both the mother and the fetus).
Perimortem Cesarean Section on an Ambulance: case report and bioethical considerations
PICOZZI, MARIO
2013-01-01
Abstract
The authors describe a rare case of Perimortem Cesarean Section, performed on an ambulance in an external hospital emergency call, with survival of the fetus in the immediate future and a year from the event (without neurological deficiencies). This fact is analyzed both from a legal (according to the Italian law) and ethical-deontological aspect. In particular: the behaviour of a non specialist in obstetrics in a non-hospital environment, the role of international guidelines (conceived for the intra-hospital environment) and the value given to the evaluation of the chances of the mother's survival are analyzed. The authors, in accordance with international guidelines, affirm that the fetus survival is strictly related to the mother's life, thus consider it a priority to make sure that the mother gets all the cures recommended by the protocol, saving the Perimortem Caesarean Section in a non-hospital environment in those cases in which the evaluation of the mother's chances to survive are equal or close to zero (emphasis on the attempt to save the fetus) or to those cases in which the evacuation of the fetus could re-establish the mother's cardio-circulatory activity (attempt to save both the mother and the fetus).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.