title: Ethical theory and principles: do they have any relevance to problems arising in everyday practice?
abstract: This review of ethical theories with application to two difficult obstetric cases will allow the practicing obstetrician and gynecologist to use these theories to help resolve difficult ethical dilemmas. In the first case a pregnant human immunodeficiency virus-infected woman refuses to take triple preventive therapy, with potential fetal harm. In the second case a couple with a quintuplet multifetal pregnancy needs assistance to decide about selective termination to effect fetal reduction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22906, USA.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Finnerty
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Pinkerton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009774:Obstetrics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D011364:Professional Practice; D016312:Treatment Refusal