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This paper reports a seven-year study of cesarean section practices at the Queen of Angels Hospital, Los Angeles, California. Indications for this procedure are listed in detail and an attempt is made to explain its increasing frequency. Practicing physicians were interviewed and testimony seemed to indicate, as was suspected, that fear of malpractice suits was one of the reasons for cesarean section. The conventional wisdom of "once a section always a section" is questioned with regard to an increasing number of trials of labor and vaginal deliveries, when they are considered feasible and safe. The federal government is manifesting serious interest in this increased number of operative deliveries in the light of cost effectiveness.