[Ethical problems raised by the current French practice of therapeutic abortions. Part I: prospective study for 24 months at the University Hospital of Tours (76 cases)]. / Problèmes éthiques soulevés par les pratiques françaises actuelles de l'interruption médicale de grossesse. 1re Partie: Etude prospective sur 24 mois au CHU de Tours (76 cas).

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Determine the circumstances and conditions concerning ethical problems raised by medical abortions treated in a University hospital. METHODS: Prospective study for 2 years (1 Sept 1991--31 Aug 1993) conducted with a consulting Committee for the antenatal diagnosis and fetal medicine at the University Hospital at Tours. Each discussion of the medical file for proposed medical abortions, the conditions leading to the decision and the ethical recommendations formulated were registered as well as the outcome of the pregnancy and for the infant. RESULTS: There were 76 cases raising ethical problems. They were divided into 3 categories of recommendations: medical abortion (55 cases), abstention with acceptation of possible fetal death in utero (11 cases), conservation of the pregnancy (10 cases). CONCLUSION: A practical attitude could usually be decided after discussion between parents and physicians. A few cases of disagreement were observed which led to uncertainty [correction of incertainty] and diverging opinions concerning the diagnosis and prognosis for the fetal pathology.