Ethical issues on pregnancy termination: impact of new imaging modalities.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_FDF7E8277007
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Publication sub-type
Review (review): journal as complete as possible of one specific subject, written based on exhaustive analyses from published work.
Collection
Publications
Title
Ethical issues on pregnancy termination: impact of new imaging modalities.
Journal
Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy
Author(s)
Gorincour G., Tassy S., Siméoni U., Le Coz P.
ISSN
1421-9964 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
1015-3837
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2011
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
30
Number
1
Pages
1-8
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Review Publication Status: ppublish
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.
Keywords
Abortion, Induced/ethics, Female, Fetus, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Pregnancy, Ultrasonography, Prenatal
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
22/02/2015 9:35
Last modification date
20/08/2019 16:28
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