The Obstetrician's Dilemma

Today's obstetricians are beleaguered hybrids of Don Quixote and King Canute. The windmills they tilt against are the buffeting forces generated by consumer groups, the government, third-party payers, and the legal system; among the tides they are asked to hold back are the rising rate of cesarean section and the growing demand for a perfect product every time. Their earnest desire to accommodate all these demands is thwarted by the realization that they cannot succeed, given the current limitations of the discipline and the almost impossible objectives. The primary surveillance technique currently used to ensure fetal well-being — namely, electronic . . .