LETTERS

Re: “Childbirth: Can the U.S. improve?” May 17:

Of course we can improve. Why, however, do you not address a key question: How does the medical malpractice issue factor into decision making?

Our “Always blame someone else” society will not progress until we come to grips with the implications of allowing our legal system to influence each choice that we make.

Ellen and Richard Brown

Del Mar

--

::

The story implies that too many cesarean sections are being done for the sake of hospital and/or physician profit and that as a consequence, more maternal/neonatal complications are occurring.

The author never mentions the primary reason for the high C-section rate in the U.S. today -- the specter of medical malpractice.

The article rightly points out that as a result of the defensive-medicine stance of doing C-sections, more complications are occurring. Whose fault is that? The doctors’ or the plaintiffs’ bar’s?

Stuart McCarthy, M.D.

Upland

--

Write to Letters to the Business Editor, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012, or e-mail to bizletters@latimes.com. Please keep letters brief and include your address and telephone number.