title: Fatal fetal paternalism.
abstract: Heuser and colleagues' survey of obstetricians provides a valuable insight into the current management of severe fetal anomalies in the United States. Their survey reveals two striking features - that counselling for these anomalies is far from neutral, and that there is significant variability between clinicians in their approach to management. In this commentary I outline the reasons to be concerned about both of these. Directiveness in counselling arguably represents a form of paternalism, and the evident variability in practice is likely the result of physician personal values. However, Heuser's survey may, by shining a light on practice, provide an important step towards a more consistent approach.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's and Children's Hospital, University of Adelaide, 72 King William Rd, North Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia. dominic.wilkinson@adelaide.edu.au
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000941:ethics*; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*