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Chapter 13 - The Perfect Baby

from Section 3 - Professionally Responsible Clinical Practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 November 2019

Laurence B. McCullough ,
John H. Coverdale  and
Frank A. Chervenak
Laurence B. McCullough
Affiliation:
Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
John H. Coverdale
Affiliation:
Baylor College of Medicine, Texas
Frank A. Chervenak
Affiliation:
Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
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Summary

This chapter provides an ethical framework for responding to an expectation of having a perfect baby.

Patients sometimes present to their physicians requests for diagnostic tests and treatments, sometimes invasive tests and treatments. This is especially the case in obstetric practice. The prevalence with which pregnant women make requests of their obstetricians varies in different populations of pregnant women. However, obstetricians are familiar with – and are often challenged by – requests for diagnostic tests and for specific interventions, such as the detailed birth plans that some pregnant women present. These requests for clinical management reflect the values and priorities of pregnant patients and therefore should be taken seriously.

Type
Chapter
Information
Professional Ethics in Obstetrics and Gynecology , pp. 163 - 170
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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References

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