Ethical issues on pregnancy termination: impact of new imaging modalities.
Fetal Diagn Ther
; 30(1): 1-8, 2011.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21372556
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To explicate the ontological statuses of both the fetus and neonate as a basis for clinical ethical judgments about the obligations of both physicians and pregnant women to protect the life and health of both the fetus and the neonate.METHODS:
Despite drastic changes in perinatology, there is still a legal separation between fetuses and neonates. Neonatal status remains specific because of the prohibition of 'transgressing human life'. Nevertheless, the concept of a 'prenatal human being' recently emerged. While new technologies blur the fetus/neonate borderline, why is it still legal in many European countries to terminate a fetal life in the late stages of pregnancy? One might even support the idea that what is authorized before birth should also be after, thereby 'fetalizing' neonates.RESULTS:
The 'personalistic' approach is against this 'fetalization', considering that terminating a neonate life is 'transgressive'. The 'utilitarian' model considers we cannot decide what is good for someone else, which justifies terminating the life of neonates who are not persons yet. A phenomenological view supports the ontological difference on our perceptions, differing whether we observe ultrasound fetal images or real neonatal pictures.CONCLUSION:
This does not mean the weight of fetal images should be underestimated.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Recién Nacido
/
Ultrasonografía Prenatal
/
Aborto Inducido
/
Feto
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Límite:
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Fetal Diagn Ther
Asunto de la revista:
DIAGNOSTICO POR IMAGEM
/
OBSTETRICIA
/
PERINATOLOGIA
Año:
2011
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Francia