Premature adoption and resolution of medical technology: illustrations from childbirth technology.

The first part of this article discusses four forces underlying the emergence, adoption, and routinization of medical technology: key societal values, policies of the federal government, reimbursement policies, and economic incentives. It also addresses a set of impacts resulting from increased reliance on medical technology. The second part of the paper assesses three examples of childbirth technology: electronic fetal monitor, obstetric ultrasound, and cesarean birth. The tendency toward premature and excessive use of technology is especially strong in the area of childbirth and technology.