Ethics and late termination of pregnancy

Bennett, Phillip R.; Gandhi, Naresh; Schmidt, Ulrike; Rizvi, Javid; Alam, Farrukh; Izhar, Nasir; Simms, Madeleine

doi:10.1016/0140-6736(93)91978-u

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…How should physicians respond to patients with a 'normal' pregnancy who request late amniocentesis to improve fetal outcome? The moral and emotional issues surrounding late amniocentesis have been the subject of debate (Bennet, 1993;Chervenak et al, 1995;Lilford and Thornton, 1993), and third-trimester amniocentesis goes far behond this preliminary study. The fact that the 14 women did well following elective third-trimester amniocentesis does not, in any way, indicate that it improves outcome over that of the conventional regimen.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Elective cytogenetic amniocentesis in the third trimester for pregnancies with high risk factors

et al. 1999

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The aim of the present study was to report the findings in 14 women with extremely high risk (‘precious’) pregnancies, 5 of whom had twins, who underwent elective third‐trimester cytogenetic amniocentesis. There were no procedure‐related complications, and all newborns weighed more than 2000 g and showed normal development. This practice is accepted under Israeli law and our institutional policy. This preliminary work does not attempt to answer the moral and ethical questions surrounding the use of third (versus second) trimester amniocentesis in either ‘precious’ or normal pregnancies. We do show, however, that the procedure is safe and may constitute a good alternative for patients who are unwilling to accept the risks of early fetal karyotyping. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Elective cytogenetic amniocentesis in the third trimester for pregnancies with high risk factors

et al. 1999

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“…The complex ethical and emotional issues surrounding late termination have been the subject of debate 2–4 . The amended law allows the risks of early karyotyping to be circumvented while still allowing karyotyping and termination if the requirements set out in Clause E [section l(l)(d)] are fulfilled.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elective late fetal karyotyping

Fisk

Fordham

Abramsky

1996

BJOG

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“…While early detection is the goal, it is not always the reality, and there have been instances of women being refused terminations after diagnosis of fetal anomalies has been delayed (SATFA, personal communication). Bennett (1993) points to the inconsistency of regarding any abnormality as serious enough to warrant termination in the first trimester but not in the second. He suggests that post‐24 week abortions are only applicable when it would be “better for the fetus not to be born alive” and that most cases of fetal abnormality, in fact, qualify for abortion not for this reason but because of the threat to the mother's mental health, thus making 24 weeks the legal limit.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Obstetricians' views on prenatal diagnosis and termination of pregnancy: 1980 compared with 1993

Green

1995

BJOG

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Objective To examine the attitudes of obstetricians in England and Wales concerning prenatal diagnosis and termination of pregnancy and to compare these with a similar survey carried out in 1980. Methods Postal questionnaires, based on those used in 1980, were sent to a random sample of 555 nonacademic consultant obstetricians, 71% of whom replied. Results The proportion of consultant obstetricians with a conscientious objection to termination of pregnancy was the same in both surveys, although virtually all conscientious objectors said that they made an exception for serious fetal abnormality. A major change was in the proportion saying that they generally required an undertaking to terminate an affected pregnancy before proceeding with amniocentesis: 75% in 1980 compared with 34% in 1993. As in 1980, lower priority is given to telling women of negative test results than of positive. More obstetricians in 1993 are prepared to consider terminations later in pregnancy, both for fetal abnormality and for social reasons, than was the case in 1980, but many are not prepared to recommend termination as late in pregnancy as the law allows. In some cases this is due to misapprehensions about what is legal. There are particular problems concerning terminations for fetal anomalies that not all would consider serious. One in seven of the 1993 sample would not recommend termination for cystic fibrosis at any gestation. Only 13 % would recommend termination for Down's syndrome beyond 24 weeks. There is a need not only for clarification of the law, but also of obstetrician's willingness to implement it.

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Ethics and late termination of pregnancy

Cited by 9 publications

References 3 publications

Elective cytogenetic amniocentesis in the third trimester for pregnancies with high risk factors

Elective cytogenetic amniocentesis in the third trimester for pregnancies with high risk factors

Elective late fetal karyotyping

Obstetricians' views on prenatal diagnosis and termination of pregnancy: 1980 compared with 1993

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