Posted on March 17, 2009
Chapter 573: This chapter establishes a process for the department of Health to educate the public about health risks, benefits and choices associated with birthing procedures. Recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics reveals that in 2006 the percentage of cesarean section births in the United States was a record high 31.1%, representing a 3% increase over the 2005 rate and a 50% increase since 1996. Indeed, recent trends show dramatic increases in the utilization of invasive procedures, including induction and elective cesarean sections, while less invasive birthing options and techniques are underutilized.
Such data is alarming because, although cesarean delivery is clearly beneficial in select circumstances, such circumstances are present in only a small percentage of pregnancies. Delivery by cesarean section, furthermore, is accompanied by a variety of health risks for both a mother and her newborn. Cesarean mothers are more likely to experience emergency hysterectomies, blood clotting and strokes, surgical injuries, infection, intense and prolonged postpartum pain as well as chronic pelvic pain and bowel obstruction. Cesarean born babies, meanwhile, are more likely than vaginally born babies to suffer from respiratory problems, experience surgical injuries and have difficulty breastfeeding. Consequently, cesarean mothers and their babies have longer and more frequent hospitalizations which result in greater health care costs to society.
Prior to enactment of this legislation, existing law (Public Health Law §2803-j) required hospitals to share only minimal information with patients concerning birthing statistics, and only under certain circumstances. Reports by the New York City Public Advocate released in July 2005 and December 2006 showed that hospitals in New York City routinely fail to make even this minimal information available to patients. Consequently, women made decisions about their childbirth options without access to this and other important information.
This chapter addresses the above by ensuring maternity patients are equipped with complete information regarding the full range of options available to them, from preconception through the birth. Arming patients with substantive, current information will help them make informed decisions, thus leading to improved birthing outcomes throughout the state. Signed by Governor Paterson on September 25, 2008, the provisions of this chapter became effective immediately. (S.5018-B/A.7674-B)
