New study condemns rise in unnecessary Caesarean births

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women in a Dallas hospital and found the unnecessary monitors led to a higher incidence of Caesareans-but In 1984, 21.1 percent of births in the United States were delivered by Caesarean section. This represents a Caesarean sections represent greater profits for 400-percent increase since 1968, when figures were first hospitals and physicians, with the average cost being compiled. And the figures are continuing to increase by 1 $4130, or 50 percent higher than a normal vaginal percent a year, according to the National Center for delivery. Hospitals and doctors gain the opportunity to Health Statistics. In some teaching hospitals, numbers use procedures, personnel, and equipment which wouldn't as high as 25 percent to 40 percent have been reported normally be covered by the patient's insurance.

Another motivation for unnecessary Caesareans is that A new study by two Chicago obstetricians recently they allow doctors complete control over reported in the San Francisco Chronicle, claims that the births-deliveries can be done at the doctor's number of C-sections could be halved. In the convenience. Dr. Stephen A. Myers, a co-author of the Netherlands, where the infant-mortality rate is the lowest Chicago study, commented, "The bottom line, I think, is in the world, C-sections account for only 2 percent of all that a Caesarean is often much easier for an obstetrician. births. Two percent to 4 percent is the accepted estimate for the average number of medically necessary Clearly, the problem of unnecessary Caesareans is a political question as well as a medical dilemma. The A Caesarean presents an added risk to the mother's life question is whether people in general-and women in because it is major abdominal surgery and requires the particular-have the right to decent medical care and to use of anesthesia. C-sections increase the mother's risk of death four fold, and postoperative infections by 33 The women's movement has helped to raise many percent. The amount of anesthesia required for surgery questions about routine medical practices that have may cause. respiratory distress, delayed motor discriminated against and hurt women. But too often the development, and neurological defects in the newborn. feminist movement has offered only individualistic Fetal heart monitors are now used routinely in most solutions—such as home births or midwifery. hospitals although they offer no advantage during a What is really needed is an entire medical system that normal delivery (the monitors are essential during high- is community controlled and centered around people's risk deliveries) and even introduce their own added risks. needs—not doctors or profits; a system where people are Dr. Kenneth J. Leyeno of the University of Texas offered free or low-cost care with the maximum choice to Southwestern Medical School studied 34,995 pregnant make informed decisions regarding their health.

in defense of Marxism Naomi M. Berman, a longtime member of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) and a leader and activist in the women's and union movements, died on Sept. 16 after a seven-year struggle with cancer.

At the age of 16, Naomi joined the labor-Zionist youth movement.

In 1940 she broke with Zionism, and five years later she joined the Naomi worked for the best part of her life as an office worker. From 1947 to 1950, she worked in the electronics industry at RCA and was active in a campaign to organize professional workers.

In 1960 Naomi worked in the reading clinic of the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education. She was instrumental in the struggle for a women's center on the campus.

In 1974 Naomi joined the National Organization for Women and became very active in its Philadelphia chapters. She was particularly outspoken for her views in support of a mass-action perspective and a policy of independent political action for NOW.

In 1978 Naomi was selected by the SWP to become Pennsylvania state candidate for lieutenant governor on the ticket with Mark Zola.

She was a leading party spokesperson and Trotskyist educator.

Naomi never hesitated to express her honest opinion. Her criticisms were always presented in a constructive manner. But she was not When she began to see the leadership of the SWP revise its programmatic principles and democratic traditions without the opportunity to have a democratic convention for discussion, she expressed her concern and slowly began to be ignored and isolated in On Jan. 3, 1983, she was confronted by a loyalty-type oath which she refused to sign on principle, and was expelled from the SWP.

Naomi never lost her socialist vision. After her expulsion from the SWP, she joined the Fourth Internationalist Tendency, through which she pursued the struggle to reverse the SWP's undemocratic expulsions and to overcome the programmatic and ideological revisionism that, Naomi Berman died a fighter, a revolutionist, and a materialist. She expressed the best of the humanist tradition in her concern for others.

A memorial meeting will be held for Naomi in October. For more information on time and place call (215) 877-2606. Contributions to her memory may be made to MADRE, 853 Broadway, Rm. 301, New York, N.Y. 10003.—HASKELL BERMAN CIALIST ACTION OCTOBER 1986 15 aloud to the entire class, and xeroxed the complete Spanish Revolution commemoration sup -plement. He credited Socialist Action for the interview. Socialist Action gets around!

Adam Shils, Chicago, III.

A correction Dear editor, In my article in the September issue of Socialist Action ("Protest targets unsafe Fernald uranium plant"), I refer to the plant as being under the control of the Defense Department. Technically, while it is admittedly producing uranium products for weaponry, it is under the control of the Department of Energy. I apologize for the mistake.

Doris Marks, Cincinnati, Ohio New York Socialist Action P.O. Box 20209, Ca. Finance 693 Columbus Ave.

New York, NY 10025 Phoenix Socialist Action P.O. Box 5161 Phoenix, AZ 85010 (602) 263-5190 San Francisco Socialist Action 3435 Army St., Rm. 308 San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 821-0458 (415) 821-0458 not healthier babies.

They don't have to stay up all night waiting."

make informed decisions about their health. She was 64 years old.

SWP. unprincipled or a compromiser of principles.

the political life of the branch. like a cancer, had grown in the SWP.