The Machine That Goes Ping!

Abstract

This chapter explores the use of electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) as a prime example of technology fetishism. EFM is not evidence based, but most maternity care providers routinely use it. Obstetricians say that they use EFM to defend themselves against liability, and malpractice attorneys often fetishize the paper strips that the EFM produces as “evidence.” At the same time, an analysis demonstrates that EFM is more common in tort reform states that limit providers’ liability risk, which contradicts the idea that providers use it to reduce legal risk. The chapter then explores institutional motivations for EFM use, including scheduling, workload, and profit benefits. These institutional priorities can undermine patients’ rights, quality of care, and informed consent, which are issues of reproductive justice. This chapter then explores the effects of reproductive rights laws on EFM, finding that more fetus-centered laws encourage more EFM, while EFM is less common in states that protect women’s reproductive rights.