Substance abuse by pregnant women: legal and ethical concerns.
Court-ordered detention and prosecution of a pregnant woman for substance abuse is an unusual but increasing occurrence in the United States. At least 24 states have attempted to prosecute a pregnant woman on a variety of charges for suspected harm to the fetus. This article reviews the issues involved including personal autonomy duty of caregivers to women and fetuses, and ethical frameworks for discussion.
Tillett
J
J
University of Wisconsin Medical School, Milwaukee Clinical Campus, Nurse-Midwifery Center, Sinai Samaritan Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
Osborne
K
K
D003415:Crime; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000628:therapy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014481:United States