Mandatory pre-abortion counseling is a barrier to accessing safe abortion services.

Empirical research showcases that pre-abortion counseling scarcely reverses the woman's decision either to terminate a pregnancy or not. Growing evidence regarding the high levels of decisional certainty among women seeking abortions renders a careful rethink of the place of mandatory pre-abortion counseling packages. Mandatory counseling packages, when inscribed in the laws, at times contain false information that can deter women from going in for safe abortions. Mandatory waiting times indirectly label opting for an abortion as not being the right thing to do. In areas where abortion stigma from health care providers and communities remains highly prevalent, women are forced to incur extra expenses by travelling to other countries. I argue that pre-abortion counseling on opting-in grounds is ethically sound (enhances the woman's reproductive autonomy), since most clients in need of abortions are certain on their decisions before the abortion care provider and do not regret these decisions after the process. Regrets are prone to be more prevalent in areas with high unsafe abortion practices, generally due to complications from excessive bleeding, pain, and post abortion infections. Allowing systematic mandatory pre-abortion counseling practice as the rule in a competent adult is unjustified ethically and empirically, is time consuming and presents the legality of abortions in most settings an oxymoron.

Ethical dilemmas and legal aspects in contraceptive counselling for women with intellectual disability-Focus group interviews among midwives in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have explored ethical and legal issues in contraceptive counselling among women with intellectual disability (ID). This study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of these issues during midwifery contraceptive counselling. METHOD: The present authors interviewed 19 midwives in five focus groups in Sweden 2016 - 2017 and analysed data with content analysis. RESULTS: The participants expressed that women with intellectual disability have equal right to relationships and sexual expressions, but feared exposure to sexual exploitation/abuse. They experienced ethical dilemmas related to principles of fairness and autonomy, but strived to provide assistance in spite of the women's cognitive impairment, presence of supporting persons and uncertainty of optimal counselling. Organizational support was insufficient. CONCLUSIONS: The midwives experienced ambivalence, uncertainty and ethical dilemmas in their counselling. They were, however, aware of legal aspects and strived for the women's best interest, right to self-determination and autonomous choices. The participants wanted better professional teamwork and support.

[For the Benefit of the Children - Judical Requested Counselling of High Conflict Parents in Educational- and Family-Counselling]. / Zum Wohle der Kinder ­ Gerichtlich angeordnete Beratung von Hochkonflikt-Eltern in der Erziehungs- und Familienberatung.

For the Benefit of the Children - Judical Requested Counselling of High Conflict Parents in Educational- and Family-Counselling Educational- and Family Counselling supports families as assistance for parenting for a successful growing up of children. Family Counselling is a voluntary offer, which is provided by a multi professional team. The counselling is confidential and bound to secrecy. According to the regulations of the law concerning the proceedings in family cases and the non-contentious jurisdiction (FamFG) the court has several options for action, such as, for example, to order a counselling in the context of child and youth service. Court related inquiries have led to advancement in Educational- and Family Counselling. In the article basic aspects of specific approaches are described.

National age-of-consent laws and adolescent HIV testing in sub-Saharan Africa: a propensity-score matched study.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the association between legal age of consent and coverage of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing among adolescents in countries with high HIV-burden. METHODS: We analysed data from adolescents aged 15-18 years, who participated in Demographic and Health Surveys or AIDS Indicator Surveys between 2011 and 2016, in 15 sub-Saharan African countries. To improve balance in the distribution of measured individual- and country-level characteristics, we used propensity score matching between adolescents in countries with more versus less restrictive age-of-consent laws (≤ 15 years versus ≥ 16 years). We estimated the percentage of individuals who self-reported that they have done an HIV test in the past 12 months and compared the differences in such testing rates among adolescents exposed to lower versus higher age-of-consent laws. We also investigated effect modifications by sex and age. FINDINGS: Legal age of consent below 16 years was associated with an 11.0 percentage points higher coverage of HIV testing (95% confidence interval, CI: 7.2 to 14.8), corresponding to a rate ratio of 1.74 (95% CI: 1.35 to 2.13). HIV testing rate had a stronger association with lower age of consent among females than males. The testing rates differences were 14.0 percentage points (95% CI: 8.6 to 19.4) for females and 6.9 percentage points (95% CI: 1.6 to 12.2) for males (P-value for homogeneity = 0.07). CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence to support the recent World Health Organization's recommendations that countries should examine current laws and address age-related barriers to uptake of sexual and reproductive health services.

Counseling and referrals for women with unplanned pregnancies at publicly funded family planning organizations in Texas.

OBJECTIVES: To compare pregnancy options counseling and referral practices at state- and Title X-funded family planning organizations in Texas after enforcement of a policy restricting abortion referrals for providers participating in state-funded programs, which differed from Title X guidelines to provide referrals for services upon request. STUDY DESIGN: Between November 2014 and February 2015, we conducted in-depth interviews with administrators at publicly funded family planning organizations in Texas about how they integrated primary care and family planning services, including pregnancy options counseling and referrals for unplanned pregnancies. We conducted a thematic analysis of transcripts related to organizations' pregnancy options counseling and referral practices, and compared themes across organizations that did and did not receive Title X funding. RESULTS: Of the 37 organizations with transcript segments on options counseling and referrals, 15 received Title X and 22 relied on state funding only. All Title X-funded organizations but only nine state-funded organizations reported offering pregnancy options counseling. Respondents at state-only-funded organizations often described directing pregnant women exclusively to prenatal care. Regardless of funding source, most organizations provided women a list of agencies offering abortion, adoption and prenatal care. However, some respondents expressed concern that providing other information about abortion would threaten their state funding. In contrast, respondents indicated staff would make appointments for prenatal care, assist with Medicaid applications and, in some instances, directly connect women with adoption-related services. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy options counseling varied by organizations' funding guidelines. Additionally, abortion referrals were less common than referrals for other pregnancy-related care. IMPLICATIONS: Programmatic guidelines restricting information on abortion counseling and referrals may adversely affect care for pregnant women at publicly funded family planning organizations.

Aspectos bioéticos y jurídicos del acompañamiento en la ley chilena de interrupción voluntaria del embarazo en tres causales / Bioethical and legal aspects of abortion counseling under Chilean law / Aspectos bioéticos e jurídicos do acompanhamento da lei chilena de interrupção voluntária da gravidez em três causas

La ley que regula la despenalización de la interrupción voluntaria del embarazo en tres causales contempla un programa de acompañamiento que garantiza el derecho a la autonomía de la paciente. En la práctica, sin embargo, no todos los modelos de acompañamiento que se ofrecen en Chile cumplen con este estándar normativo. El artículo analiza el acompañamiento desde las perspectivas jurídicas y bioética, y explora las características que debiera tener un programa de acompañamiento respetuoso de la autonomía de la mujer embarazada. El texto concluye afirmando que el profesional de salud que ofrece acompañamiento debe involucrarse en un diálogo respetuoso y genuino con la paciente, proveer información adecuada, abstenerse de imponer su propia interpretación sobre la experiencia de la mujer, apoyarla en su deliberación y asumir que las preferencias y valores de la mujer deben guiar el proceso de toma de decisiones. Los programas que no cumplen con estos estándares pueden estar infringiendo obligaciones legales.

The Chilean statute decriminalizing abortion under three specific grounds provides for a counseling program which guarantees patient's autonomy. However, the reality is that not all counseling programs that are offered in Chile comply with this normative standard. The article analyzes abortion counseling from a legal and bioethical perspective, and examines the features of a counseling program respectful of the pregnant woman's autonomy. The text concludes stating that the health care professional that offers support he/she should be involved in a respectful and genuine dialogue with the patient, provide adequate information, refraining from imposing his/her own interpretation about the experience of the woman, support her in deliberating and assume that her preferences and values must guide the process of decision making. The programs which do not fulfill these standards may be contravening legal obligations.

A lei que regula a descriminalização da interrupção voluntária de gravidez em três causal inclui um programa de acompanhamento que garante o direito à autonomia do paciente. Na prática, no entanto, nem todos os modelos de acompanhamentos oferecidos no Chile cumprem com esse padrão normativo. O artigo analisa o acompanhamento com base nas perspectivas jurídicas e bioética e explora as características que devem ter um programa de apoio respeitoso da autonomia da mulher grávida. O texto conclui afirmando que o profissional de saúde que fornece acompanhamento deve estabelecer um diálogo genuíno e respeitoso com a paciente, fornecer informações adequadas, abster-se de impor sua própria interpretação sobre a experiência da mulher, apoiá-la em sua deliberação e assumir que as preferências e os valores da mulher devem orientar o processo de tomada de decisão. Os programas que não cumpram com estas normas podem estar infringindo obrigações legais.

Law, Ethics, and Conversations between Physicians and Patients about Firearms in the Home.

Firearms in the home pose a risk to household members, including homicide, suicide, and unintentional deaths. Medical societies urge clinicians to counsel patients about those risks as part of sound medical practice. Depending on the circumstances, clinicians might recommend safe firearm storage, temporary removal of the firearm from the home, or other measures. Certain state firearm laws, however, might present legal and ethical challenges for physicians who counsel patients about guns in the home. Specifically, we discuss state background check laws for gun transfers, safe gun storage laws, and laws forbidding physicians from engaging in certain firearm-related conversations with their patients. Medical professionals should be aware of these and other state gun laws but should offer anticipatory guidance when clinically appropriate.

Legal barriers to access abortion services through a human rights lens: the Uruguayan experience.

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) has increasingly gained importance in the field of international human rights law. The work of the United Nations (UN) bodies, in particular the recently adopted General Comment 22 (GC 22), has been instrumental in signalling the importance of the SRH legal framework and in setting clear guidelines to steer countries into enacting/modifying/repealing national laws in order to comply with their international obligations vis-à-vis SRH. Although within the region Uruguay is regarded as a pioneer in terms of women's status and rights, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, evidence points to a number of challenges. This article explores the extent to which the Uruguayan abortion law complies with the country's international human rights obligations as conceptualised by GC 22. It uses the Uruguayan abortion law, its regulatory decree, and the highest administrative court's decision in Alonso et al v. Poder Ejecutivo as the main pivots for the discussion. The results reveal that - in spite of the praise it receives at the international level and the adoption of a less restrictive abortion law - Uruguay has fallen short in adopting a legal framework that complies with the international standards and guarantees effective access to abortion services.

Exemptions From Mandatory Immunization After Legally Mandated Parental Counseling.

BACKGROUND: The success of health care provider counseling-based interventions to address vaccine hesitancy is not clear. In 2011, Washington State implemented Senate Bill 5005 (SB5005), requiring counseling and a signed form from a licensed health care provider to obtain an exemption. Evaluating the impact of a counseling intervention can provide important insight into population-level interventions that focus on interpersonal communication by a health care provider. METHODS: We used segmented regression and interaction and aggregation indices to assess the impact of SB5005 on immunization coverage and exemption rates in Washington State from school years 1997-1998 through 2013-2014. RESULTS: After SB5005 was implemented, there was a significant relative decrease of 40.2% (95% confidence interval: -43.6% to -36.6%) in exemption rates. This translates to a significant absolute reduction of 2.9 percentage points (95% confidence interval: -4.2% to -1.7%) in exemption rates. There were increases in vaccine coverage for all vaccines required for school entrance, with the exception of the hepatitis B vaccine. The probability that kindergarteners without exemptions would encounter kindergarteners with exemptions (interaction index) decreased, and the probability that kindergarteners with exemptions would encounter other such kindergarteners (aggregation index) also decreased after SB5005. Moreover, SB5005 was associated with a decline in geographic clustering of vaccine exemptors. CONCLUSIONS: States in the United States and jurisdictions in other countries should consider adding parental counseling by health care provider as a requirement for obtaining exemptions to vaccination requirements.

Medical abortion reversal: science and politics meet.

Medical abortion is a safe, effective, and acceptable option for patients seeking an early nonsurgical abortion. In 2014, medical abortion accounted for nearly one third (31%) of all abortions performed in the United States. State-level attempts to restrict reproductive and sexual health have recently included bills that require physicians to inform women that a medical abortion is reversible. In this commentary, we will review the history, current evidence-based regimen, and regulation of medical abortion. We will then examine current proposed and existing abortion reversal legislation. The objective of this commentary is to ensure physicians are armed with rigorous evidence to inform patients, communities, and policy makers about the safety of medical abortion. Furthermore, given the current paucity of evidence for medical abortion reversal, physicians and policy makers can dispel bad science and misinformation and advocate against medical abortion reversal legislation.

Collaboration, confidentiality, and care.

There is an increasing call to attend to the needs of students in distress (Reynolds, 2013). Furthermore, research has begun to highlight links between distress, risky, or dangerous behaviors as well as issues in mental health in the higher education population (Deasy, Coughlan, Pironom, Jourdan, & Mannix-McNamara, 2014). The National Alliance on Mental Health and the Jed Foundation (National Alliance on Mental Illness & the Jed Foundation, 2016) estimate that about 20% of enrolled college students will face some type of mental illness. As such, the work of mental health professionals, which has been increasing with time, will continue to play a pivotal role on today's campus (Kitzrow, 2009). Yet mental health in higher education is too pervasive and significant of a topic for counseling and psychological centers to handle by themselves (Joint Task Force in Student Learning, 1998; Mitchell et al., 2012). Therefore, a collaborative approach is warranted as higher education professionals strive to meet the increasing mental health demands of the student population. Case studies amalgamated from housing and residence life professionals are used to gain a greater understanding of how interdepartmental work is carried out without compromising or breaching ethical or legal regulations as set by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and/or organizational standards like that of the International Association of Counseling Services Inc. (International Association for Counseling Services Inc., 2014) Specifically, the cases demonstrate ways inter- and intradepartmental staffers can work as a team, safeguard private and confidential information, and concurrently create an environment in which care is nurtured. (PsycINFO Database Record

A randomized pilot evaluation of individual-level abortion stigma resulting from Pennsylvania mandated abortion counseling.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to investigate the effect of mandated abortion counseling requirements intended to dissuade women from having abortions on patients' individual-level abortion stigma. METHODS: We randomized women presenting for abortion to complete a demographic survey and the validated Individual Level Abortion Stigma (ILAS) scale either before (unexposed) or after (exposed) hearing the mandatory Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act counseling via a standardized video. A sample size of 46 (23 per group) allowed us to detect a 1-standard-deviation difference in mean ILAS score between the groups. The ILAS scale ranges from 0 to 3.5, with higher scores indicating greater stigma. RESULTS: From November 2015 to April 2016, 46 participants completed the study. All baseline characteristics were balanced except that the unexposed group had a greater proportion of low-income participants. The mean ILAS score among all participants was 1.02±0.60. ILAS scores were significantly higher among the unexposed group (median 1.25, interquartile range [IQR] 0.7-1.9) compared to the exposed group (median 0.75, IQR 0.5-1.05; p=.016). However, when controlling for participant income category, the effect of the mandated counseling on stigma scores was no longer present (p=.068). CONCLUSIONS: In this randomized trial, stigma scores were higher among women who had not heard the mandated abortion counseling when compared with stigma scores for those who had heard the script, but this effect was confounded by participants' income category. IMPLICATIONS: Despite the small sample size in this pilot study, differences in stigma scores for women exposed and unexposed to mandated counseling approached significance even after controlling for income category. Women who heard the mandated counseling had reduced stigma scores. A larger study is needed to better characterize this effect. Further research is needed to understand how state policies, counseling interactions and socioeconomic status are related to abortion stigma.

Characteristics and Circumstances of U.S. Women Who Obtain Very Early and Second-Trimester Abortions.

OBJECTIVE: To determine which characteristics and circumstances were associated with very early and second-trimester abortion. METHODS: Paper and pencil surveys were collected from a national sample of 8,380 non-hospital U.S. abortion patients in 2014 and 2015. We used self-reported LMP to calculate weeks gestation; when LMP was not provided we used self-reported weeks pregnant. We constructed two dependent variables: obtaining a very early abortion, defined as six weeks gestation or earlier, and obtaining second-trimester abortion, defined as occurring at 13 weeks gestation or later. We examined associations between the two measures of gestation and a range of characteristics and circumstances, including type of abortion waiting period in the patients' state of residence. RESULTS: Among first-trimester abortion patients, characteristics that decreased the likelihood of obtaining a very early abortion include being under the age of 20, relying on financial assistance to pay for the procedure, recent exposure to two or more disruptive events and living in a state that requires in-person counseling 24-72 hours prior to the procedure. Having a college degree and early recognition of pregnancy increased the likelihood of obtaining a very early abortion. Characteristics that increased the likelihood of obtaining a second-trimester abortion include being Black, having less than a high school degree, relying on financial assistance to pay for the procedure, living 25 or more miles from the facility and late recognition of pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: While the availability of financial assistance may allow women to obtain abortions they would otherwise be unable to have, it may also result in delays in accessing care. If poor women had health insurance that covered abortion services, these delays could be alleviated. Since the study period, four additional states have started requiring that women obtain in-person counseling prior to obtaining an abortion, and the increase in these laws could slow down the trend in very early abortion.

Fertility Counseling and Treatment for Certain Veterans and Spouses. Interim final rule.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) amends its regulation regarding fertility counseling and treatment available to certain veterans and spouses. VA currently provides certain infertility services other than in vitro fertilization (IVF) to veterans as part of the medical benefits package. IVF is the process of fertilization by manually fertilizing an egg, and then transferring the embryo to the uterus. This interim final rulemaking adds a new section authorizing IVF for a veteran with a service-connected disability that results in the inability of the veteran to procreate without the use of fertility treatment. In addition, we add a new section stating that VA may provide fertility counseling and treatment using assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including IVF, to a spouse of a veteran with a service-connected disability that results in the inability of the veteran to procreate without the use of fertility treatment. VA will provide ART treatment, including IVF, to these veterans and spouses as specified in the Continuing Appropriations and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017, and Zika Response and Preparedness Act to the extent such services are consistent with the services available to enrolled veterans under the medical benefits package.

Transgender Inmates in Prisons.

Transgender inmates provide a conundrum for correctional staff, particularly when it comes to classification, victimization, and medical and health issues. Using LexisNexis and WestLaw and state Department of Corrections (DOC) information, we collected state statutes and DOC policies concerning transgender inmates. We utilized academic legal research with content analysis to determine whether a statute or policy addressed issues concerning classification procedures, access to counseling services, the initiation and continuation of hormone therapy, and sex reassignment surgery. We found that while more states are providing either statutory or policy guidelines for transgender inmates, a number of states are lagging behind and there is a shortage of guidance dealing with the medical issues related to being transgender.

Psicoterapia online: demanda crescente e sugestões para regulamentação / Online psychotherapy: growing demand and suggestions for its regulation / Psicoterapia em línea y sugerencias para la reglamentación

A psicoterapia online é uma forma de psicoterapia, conduzida por meio de sessões síncronas via internet, ainda não permitidas no Brasil, exceto em alguns casos definidos pela resolução 011/2012, do Conselho Federal de Psicologia. Tal restrição é baseada no entendimento de que a pesquisa disponível é insuficiente para autorizar a utilização generalizada desse tipo de serviço. Estudos sobre a aliança terapêutica no atendimento psicológico, fornecido exclusivamente pela internet, mostram que o estabelecimento da relação terapêutica em chamadas online síncronas ocorre de maneira muito parecida com o que acontece em processos terapêuticos face a face, considerando tanto seus benefícios como seus desafios. Este artigo tem como objetivos ampliar a compreensão da psicoterapia online e questionar a sua simples proibição, sinalizando os perigos implicados, vis-a-vis o aumento da demanda para o serviço e seu uso crescente, em desrespeito às restrições atuais. Este artigo também faz sugestões para a regulação do serviço no Brasil.

Online psychotherapy is a form of psychotherapy conducted by means of synchronous Internet sessions that are still not allowed in Brazil, except in a few instances defined by the Resolution 011/2012 of the Federal Council of Psychology. Such restriction is based on the understanding that the research available is insufficient to authorize a wide spread use of this type of service. Studies on therapeutic alliance in psychological care provided exclusively over the internet show that the establishment of the therapeutic relationship in synchronous online calls occurs much like it does in face-to-face therapeutic processes, considering both, its benefits and challenges. This article aims to broaden the understanding of the online psychotherapy and to question its prohibition, signaling the dangers it entails, vis-a-vis the increasing demand for the service and its widespread use in disregard with the current restrictions. This article also makes suggestions for the regulation of the service in Brazil.

Psicoterapia en línea es una forma de psicoterapia realizada por intermedio de sesiones sincrónicas a través de Internet, todavía no permitido en Brasil, excepto en algunos casos definidos por la Resolución 011/2012 del Consejo Federal de Psicología. Esta restricción se basa en la constatación de que la investigación disponible es insuficiente para permitir el uso generalizado de este tipo de servicio. Los estudios sobre la alianza terapéutica en los servicios psicológicos proporcionados exclusivamente por medio de Internet muestran que el establecimiento de la relación terapéutica en las llamadas síncronas en línea es una forma muy parecida a lo que ocurre en los procesos terapéuticos cara a cara, teniendo en cuenta tanto sus beneficios y desafíos. Este artículo tiene como objetivo ampliar la comprensión de la psicoterapia en línea y cuestionar su simple prohibición, señalando los peligros involucrados, vis-a-vis el aumento de la demanda del servicio y su creciente uso en violación de las restricciones actuales. En este artículo también se hace sugerencias para regular el servicio en Brasil.