Donald School Journal of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Register      Login

VOLUME 1 , ISSUE 4 ( October-December, 2007 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Ethical Challenges in the Management of Pregnancies Complicated by Fetal Anomalies

Laurence B McCullough, Daniel Skupski, Stephen T Chasen

Keywords : Ethics,ultrasound,abortion,fetal research,cephalo- centesis,autonomy

Citation Information : McCullough LB, Skupski D, Chasen ST. Ethical Challenges in the Management of Pregnancies Complicated by Fetal Anomalies. Donald School J Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2007; 1 (4):1-6.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10009-1113

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 01-12-2008

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2007; The Author(s).


Abstract

Ethics is an essential dimension of the clinical management of pregnancies complicated by fetal anomalies. Appealing to the ethical principles of beneficence and respect for autonomy, this reviews explicates the ethical concept of the ‘fetus as a patient’. This concept provides the basis for a comprehensive approach to ethical challenges in the management of pregnancies complicated by fetal anomalies. Practice, ethically justified guidance is given for the physician's role in counseling pregnant women about aggressive management, termination of pregnancy, selective termination of multifetal pregnancies, non- aggressive management, and cephalocentesis.


PDF Share
  1. Ethical issues in the management of pregnancies complicated by fetal anomalies. Obstet Gynecol Surv 2003;58:473-83.
  2. Ethics in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Oxford University Press: New York, 1994.
  3. Principles of Biomedical ethics (5th edn). Oxford University Press: New York, 2000.
  4. Ancient Medicine, Johns Hopkins University Press: Baltimore, 1967;p.3.
  5. Epidemics i:xi. WHS Jones, trans. Loeb Classical Library. Harvard University Press: Cambridge, 1923;vol 147.
  6. A History and Theory of Informed Consent. Oxford University Press: New York, 1986.
  7. An ethically justified, clinically comprehensive approach to periviability: gynaecologic, obstetric, perinatal, and neonatal dimensions. Br J Obstet Gynecol (in press).
  8. Ethical issues surrounding multifetal pregnancy reduction and selective termination. Clin Perinat 1996;23:437-51.
  9. Three ethically justified indications for selective termination in multifetal pregnancy: a practical and comprehensive management strategy. J Assist Reprod Genet 1995;12:531-6.
  10. International collaborative multifetal pregnancy indication: collaborative experience among the world's largest centers. Obstet Gynecol 1993;82:61-7.
  11. When is termination of pregnancy during the third trimester morally justifiable? N Engl J Med 1984;310:501-4.
  12. Is third trimester abortion justified? Br J Obstet Gynæcol 1995;102:434-5.
  13. Third trimester abortion: is compassion enough? Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1999;106:293-6.
  14. Nonaggressive obstetric management: an option for some fetal anomalies during the third trimester. JAMA 1989;261:3439-40.
  15. Is there a role for fetal cephalocentesis in modern obstetrics? Am J Perinatol 1984;1:170-3.
  16. The role of cephalocentesis in modern obstetrics. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:734-6.
  17. Management of fetal hydrocephalus. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1985;151:933-7.
  18. Intellectual development in shunted hydrocephalic children. Am J Dis Child 1974;127:664.
  19. Current prognosis in overt neonatal hydrocephalus. J Neurosurg 1982;57:378.
  20. Hydranencephaly versus maximal hydrocephalus: an important clinical distinction. Neurosurgery 1980;6:35.
  21. Fetal hydrocephalus: sonographic detection and clinical significance of associated anomalies. Radiology 1987;163:187.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.