The Romanian College of Physicians (CMR) warns that the messages on the billboards in Bucharest regarding cesarean delivery are “lacking scientific foundation” and emphasizes that the medical information publicly disseminated must be correct, complete and scientifically validated.
“Correct, complete and scientifically validated information is essential both for patients and for society as a whole”reports CMR, on Facebook.
The institution emphasizes that “recommendations regarding the medical act must belong exclusively to professionals in the field, respecting the limits of competence”and these must be “based on sound scientific evidence, clinical guidelines recognized by the scientific community and good medical practices, adapted to the particularities of each individual case”.
The president of CMR, university professor dr. Cătălina Poiană, emphasizes that: “to ensure transparency and public responsibility, the Romanian College of Physicians considers it mandatory that any material of a medical nature disseminated in the public space in a communication campaign — regardless of the chosen channel — clearly contain the identification data of the initiator or promoter of the campaign”.
According to the institution, “misinformation in health or incomplete presentation of information are not mere opinions, but can constitute a real risk for the health of the population”.
Regarding the messages that have recently appeared in the public space regarding cesarean delivery, the Romanian College of Physicians, through the Obstetrics-Gynecology Commission, makes the following clarifications:
“The statements displayed on the billboards that appeared recently in Bucharestand are without scientific foundation. Birth by caesarean section represents, in many situations, a life-saving medical intervention, both for the mother and for the fetus, being indicated based on clear medical criteria. It is true that in Romania there is an increased number of cesarean operations, but this phenomenon is part of the general European and global trend, determined by multiple medical, social and systemic causes”, said the representatives of the commission.
CMR emphasizes that “the decision regarding the type of birth is the result of an individualized medical evaluation, followed by informing the patient about the advantages and risks, the final decision being the optimal one for the health of the mother and the child” and draws attention to the fact that “protecting the population against unapproved medical messages must become a public interest priority”.
Project with new rules submitted to Parliament
USR deputy from Vrancea Corina Atanasiu proposes the introduction of a new rule for messages of a medical nature displayed in public space. The legislative initiative would provide that any public sign that contains “tips” to be approved by the College of Physicians or a specialized medical association, before receiving approval from the local authorities. The initiative comes as a result of the billboards that littered Bucharest, through which expectant mothers are advised to inquire about the benefits of natural birth, to the detriment of cesarean operations.
“After Easter, I will submit a draft law by which no medical “advice” can be displayed on public billboards without the mayor’s office, which issues the approvals according to the law, obtaining approval from the College of Doctors or from the professional medical association. Also, that a box with the promoter’s name must appear on any billboard, so that we too can see who is behind these absolutely unconscious campaigns”wrote Corina Atanasiu on Facebook.
The parliamentarian gave the example of a billboard that erroneously claims that “through caesarean section, the lack of dilations and contractions is genetically transmitted from mother to daughter”, a statement that it categorizes as false and without scientific basis. It warns that such messages can create anxiety among expectant parents and influence risky medical decisions.
