General surgeons to be called in to perform cesarean sections

General surgeons are to be called in to perform cesarean sections, to make up for the shortage of obstetricians. The news has been reported in today’s edition of Expresso. It is provided for in the new contingency plan already delivered to State health service hospitals. According to Expresso, it will only be activate when the acute care team has only one obstetric specialist available (two are always needed). The General Surgery College of the Portuguese Order of Physicians is against the measure, complaining also that it was not consulted.