medical tests

A growing chorus of obstetricians, researchers, and patient‑advocacy groups is warning that the routine use of continuous electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) — a practice often dubbed “the worst test in medicine” — is a major driver behind the United States’ soaring cesarean‑section numbers. An investigative report by *The Times* this...

Electronic fetal monitoring (EFM)—the practice of watching a baby’s heart rate around the clock during labor—has become almost universal in U.S. hospitals. Yet, despite its prevalence, decades of research show that the test rarely improves outcomes for mother or child. Instead, it often triggers false alarms that push obstetricians toward...