title: Ethical aspects of paternal preconception lifestyle modification.
abstract: This Clinical Opinion points to a potential conflict between the scarcity of evidence on paternal preconception risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes and the view that preconception care should be also directed at men. We argue that from an ethical perspective, responsible fatherhood starts already before conception, as long as the evidence increases on the benefits of paternal preconception lifestyle (modification). Our explorative study suggests that the strength of the evidence for paternal preconception lifestyle modification is important for men. We argue that 5 aspects together determine the moral responsibility of prospective fathers to modify their behavior: the strength of the evidence of the risk factor, the modifiability of the risk, the efforts necessary to eliminate or diminish the risk factor, the severity of harm, and the probability that harm will occur and that it will be prevented by modifying the risk factor. The case of paternal preconception smoking illustrates the analysis.
authors: Department of Medical Ethics and Philosophy of Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: boukjevanderzee@hotmail.com.
authors: Boukje
authors: B
authors: van der Zee
authors: Guido
authors: G
authors: de Wert
authors: Eric A
authors: EA
authors: Steegers
authors: Inez D
authors: ID
authors: de Beaufort
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D016742:Preconception Care / Q000941:ethics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011336:Probability; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology
keywords: ethics; evidence-based medicine; paternal lifestyle; preconception care; responsible fatherhood