title: Caring ethics and a Somali reproductive dilemma.
abstract: The use of traditional ethical methodologies is inadequate in addressing a constructed maternal-fetal rights conflict in a multicultural obstetrical setting. The use of caring ethics and a relational approach is better suited to address multicultural conceptualizations of autonomy and moral distress. The way power differentials, authoritative knowledge, and informed consent are intertwined in this dilemma will be illuminated by contrasting traditional bioethics and a caring ethics approach. Cultural safety is suggested as a way to develop a relational ontology. Using caring ethics and a relational approach can alleviate moral distress in health-care providers, while promoting collaboration and trust between providers and their patients and ultimately decreasing reproductive disparities. This article examines how a relational approach can be applied to a cross-cultural reproductive dilemma.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Box: 357260, Rm/Bldg: T-310, Health Sciences, University of Washington, 1959 Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. rnarruhn@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Narruhn
authors.forename: Ingra R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Schellenberg
mesh_terms: D054521:Cultural Competency; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000941:ethics; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000941:ethics*; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000941:ethics*; D028701:Patient Rights; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics*; D012998:Somalia; D016746:Transcultural Nursing / Q000941:ethics*