Lawmakers outlaw denial of epidurals
Lawmakers outlaw denial of epidurals
Lawmakers in California recently approved legislation to end the controversial - and unethical - practice of denying anesthesia for expectant Medi-Cal patients during childbirth. (See Medical Ethics Advisor, August 1998, p. 85.)
The California state assembly approved legislation in early September that would forbid physicians from withholding pain relief from women in labor. The legislation also would allow the state medical board to discipline physicians who withhold or threaten to withhold pain relief.
Assembly bill 1397, which was sponsored by assemblyman Martin Gallegos, was sent to Governor Pete Wilson's office for his signature. "We're sworn as [providers] to provide care to people who need it," says Gallegos, who is a chiropractor. "It's a terrible breach of ethics when [providers] try to blackmail patients in this way."
It is unclear whether Wilson will approve or veto the legislation.
The legislation comes on the heels of allegations involving denial of anesthesia that emerged in June when a former patient sued Northridge Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles. The state Department of Health Services began an investigation that has resulted in identifying three additional hospitals where Medi-Cal patients were required to pay for anesthesia.
In addition, Northridge hospital was ordered by the state to reimburse approximately 300 Medi-Cal patients who were forced to pay for anesthesia during childbirth from 1992 to August 1997.
Subscribe Now for Access
You have reached your article limit for the month. We hope you found our articles both enjoyable and insightful. For information on new subscriptions, product trials, alternative billing arrangements or group and site discounts please call 800-688-2421. We look forward to having you as a long-term member of the Relias Media community.