Ethical issues in the management of pregnancies complicated by fetal anomalies.
Ethics is an essential dimension of the clinical management of pregnancies complicated by fetal anomalies. Utilizing the ethical principles of beneficence and respect for autonomy, this review first sets out the ethical concept of the fetus as a patient. This concept provides the basis for a comprehensive approach to ethical issues in the management of pregnancies complicated by fetal anomalies. Practical, 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, nonaggressive management, cephalocentesis, and fetal research.
Chervenak
Frank A
FA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 525 East 68th Street-J130, New York, NY 10025, USA.
McCullough
Laurence B
LB
Skupski
Daniel
D
Chasen
Stephen T
ST
D000025:Abortion, Eugenic / Q000941:ethics; D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000328:Adult; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000628:therapy*; D003376:Counseling; D003657:Decision Making; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D033042:Fetal Research; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000941:ethics*; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple