Should medicine assist a teenager to achieve a pregnancy?
This article discusses a scenario of a teenager seeking medical assistance for infertility. Despite its apparent simplicity, the case poses a significant challenge to healthcare professionals. It requires consideration of maternal and child welfare and examination of the legitimate limits of doctors' role vis-à-vis the policy objective of reducing teenage pregnancy rate. The negative stereotypic representation of teenage pregnancy is an important confounding factor.
Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, University Hospitals of Leicester, Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE1 5WW, UK. mah6@le.ac.uk
Marwan
M
Habiba
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000941:ethics* / Q000523:psychology; D016079:Refusal to Treat; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult