title: Ethics of prenatal ultrasound.
abstract: Prenatal ultrasound has opened new opportunities to examine, diagnose and treat the fetus, but these advances bring with them ethical dilemmas. In this chapter, I address the ethical principles that need to be considered when treating both mother and fetus as patients, and how these can be applied in practice. In particular, ultrasound practitioners have an ethical duty to maintain their theoretical knowledge and practical skills to ensure they advise parents correctly. I also discuss the ethical issues in carrying out intrauterine therapy, ultrasound-related research, and termination of pregnancy for fetal abnormality.
authors.affiliation: Wessex Fetal Medicine Unit, Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton SO16 5YA, UK. Electronic address: dth@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Howe
mesh_terms: D000025:Abortion, Eugenic / Q000941:ethics; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D046128:Fetal Therapies / Q000941:ethics; D006801:Humans; D057240:Patient Preference; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000941:ethics*
keywords: ethics; termination of pregnancy; ultrasonography prenatal