PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Lawrence M. Leeman AU - Lauren A. Plante TI - Patient-Choice Vaginal Delivery? AID - 10.1370/afm.537 DP - 2006 May 01 TA - The Annals of Family Medicine PG - 265--268 VI - 4 IP - 3 4099 - http://www.annfammed.org/content/4/3/265.short 4100 - http://www.annfammed.org/content/4/3/265.full SO - Ann Fam Med2006 May 01; 4 AB - Patient-choice cesarean delivery is increasing in the United States. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports this option, citing ethical premises of autonomy and informed consent, despite a lack of evidence for its safety. This increase in patient-choice cesarean delivery occurs during a time when women with a breech-presenting fetus or a previous cesarean section have fewer choices as to vaginal birth. Patient-choice cesarean delivery may become widely disseminated before the potential risks to women and their children have been well analyzed. The growing pressure for cesarean delivery in the absence of a medical indication may ultimately result in a decrease of women’s childbirth options. Advocacy of patient-choice requires preserving vaginal birth options as well as cesarean delivery.