Dilemmas in fetal medicine: premature application of technology or responding to women's choice?

Sociology of Health & Illness
Clare Williams

Abstract

It is argued that innovative health technologies (IHTs) may be changing the roles of both patients and health practitioners, and raising new issues, including ethical, legal and social dilemmas. This paper focuses on the innovative area of fetal medicine. All fetal treatment necessitates accessing the fetus through the pregnant woman's body, and non-surgical treatments have long been a part of pregnancy care. However, recent developments in this area, including the increasing routinisation of sophisticated antenatal ultrasound screening and the introduction of treatments including fetal surgery, may mark a shift in this specialty. The paper explores such shifts from the perspectives of medical and midwifery practitioners working in two Fetal Medicine Units. It examines the apparent effects of the orientation of fetal medicine on prevalent conceptualisations of the maternal-fetal relationship, and some of the consequences of this. It is argued that new forms of uncertainty, including complex risk and diagnostic information, and uncertain prognostic predictions set within the rhetoric of non-directive counselling and women's choice, are leading to unprecedented ethical dilemmas within this area. More widespread debate about such ...Continue Reading

References

Jul 1, 1989·The British Journal of Ophthalmology·A Spallone
Sep 17, 1993·Clinica Chimica Acta; International Journal of Clinical Chemistry·H ToppG Schöch
Oct 1, 1997·Social Science & Medicine·N Press, C H Browner
Apr 15, 1999·Nature Medicine·R G Edwards
Jul 30, 1999·British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology·F A ChervenakS Campbell
Dec 22, 1999·Journal of Clinical Pathology·S A McLean
Feb 12, 2000·Journal of the American Dietetic Association·T Fox
Sep 28, 2001·Journal of Medical Ethics·J Wyatt
Oct 20, 2001·Social Studies of Science·M J Casper, A E Clarke
Jul 1, 1994·Science, Technology & Human Values·Monica J Casper
Feb 5, 2002·Social Science & Medicine·Clare WilliamsBobbie Farsides
Aug 23, 2002·Social Science & Medicine·Clare WilliamBobbie Farsides
Dec 9, 2004·New Genetics and Society·C WilliamsB Farsides
Mar 4, 2005·Social Science & Medicine·Clare Williams
Nov 1, 2003·Sociology of Health & Illness·Clare WilliamsLesley Henderson
Nov 1, 2003·Sociology of Health & Illness·Oonagh Corrigan

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

May 19, 2005·Social Science & Medicine·Clare WilliamsRachel Grellier
Jun 15, 2007·Social Science & Medicine·Ian WhitmarshDonald B Bailey
Mar 28, 2018·Qualitative Health Research·Mabel L S LieUNKNOWN MERIDIAN Collaborative Group
Aug 3, 2018·Medicine, Health Care, and Philosophy·John Gardner, Narelle Warren
Sep 21, 2019·Health Technology Assessment : HTA·Paul D GriffithsAllan Wailoo

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Baillière's Best Practice & Research. Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology
F A Chervenak, L B McCullough
The Journal of Maternal-fetal Medicine
F A Chervenak, L B McCullough
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved