Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- Section I Information problems
- Section II End of life care
- Section III Pregnant women and children
- Introduction
- 14 Ethical dilemmas in the care of pregnant women: rethinking “maternal–fetal conflicts”
- 15 Prenatal testing and newborn screening
- 16 Assisted reproduction
- 17 Respectful involvement of children in medical decision making
- 18 Non-therapeutic pediatric interventions
- 19 Child abuse and neglect
- Section IV Genetics and biotechnology
- Section V Research ethics
- Section VI Health systems and institutions
- Section VII Using clinical ethics to make an impact in healthcare
- Section VIII Global health ethics
- Section IX Religious and cultural perspectives in bioethics
- Section X Specialty bioethics
- Index
- References
14 - Ethical dilemmas in the care of pregnant women: rethinking “maternal–fetal conflicts”
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 October 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- Section I Information problems
- Section II End of life care
- Section III Pregnant women and children
- Introduction
- 14 Ethical dilemmas in the care of pregnant women: rethinking “maternal–fetal conflicts”
- 15 Prenatal testing and newborn screening
- 16 Assisted reproduction
- 17 Respectful involvement of children in medical decision making
- 18 Non-therapeutic pediatric interventions
- 19 Child abuse and neglect
- Section IV Genetics and biotechnology
- Section V Research ethics
- Section VI Health systems and institutions
- Section VII Using clinical ethics to make an impact in healthcare
- Section VIII Global health ethics
- Section IX Religious and cultural perspectives in bioethics
- Section X Specialty bioethics
- Index
- References
Summary
Ms. A is 19 years old and 25 weeks pregnant. Although her pregnancy was unplanned, at no time has she considered pregnancy termination. During a prenatal office visit, Ms. A reveals that she has a daily drug habit that includes crack cocaine and intravenous narcotics. She refuses to consider a change in her behavior, despite a thorough review of the potential effects of her substance abuse on her pregnancy outcome. Specifically, she refuses to participate in a methadone or other substance-abuse program.
Ms. B is 24 years old and has been in labor for 18 hours. The cervical dilatation has not progressed past 3 cm. The fetal heart rate tracing has been worrisome but is now seriously abnormal, showing a profound bradycardia of 65 beats per minute. This bradycardia does not resolve with conservative measures. Repeat pelvic examination reveals no prolapsed cord and confirms a vertex presentation at 3 cm dilatation. The obstetrician explains to Ms. B that a cesarean section will be necessary because of suspected fetal distress. Ms. B absolutely refuses, saying “No surgery.”
What are ethical dilemmas in the care of pregnant women?
When a pregnant woman engages in behavior(s) that may be harmful to her fetus, or refuses a recommended diagnostic or therapeutic intervention aimed at enhancing fetal health and well-being, her physician may experience an ethical dilemma.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Cambridge Textbook of Bioethics , pp. 97 - 103Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008
References
- 4
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