A comprehensive, practical guide to professional ethics in obstetrics and gynecology for those with or without training in medical ethics.

This book offers a comprehensive and clinically practical approach to ethics in the everyday practice of obstetrics and gynecology. The topics the authors address include: contraception, abortion, selective termination of multifetal pregnancies, gynecologic cancer, in vitro fertilization, surrogacy, prenatal diagnosis, fetal therapy, cephalocentisis, prematurity, HIV infection, and court ordered cesarean delivery. The issues involved in making decisions in many of these areas are a source of conflict, and lead to crisis between the physician and patient. One of the book's strengths is its emphasis on prevention and, if prevention fails, management, of the conflicts and crises which arise in these areas of medicine. The authors develop their preventative and management strategies on the basis of a framework for bioethics in the clinical setting. This framework is rigorously established and defended. The authors argue that four virtues -- self effacement, self sacrifice, compassion, and integrity -- generate the physician's obligation to protect and promote the patient's interest. They then identify the three types of patient's interests -- social role interests, subjective interests, and deliberative interests -- and they reinterpret the ethical principles of beneficence and respect for autonomy in terms of these. The concept of the fetus as patient, the physician's obligation to third parties, and the moral standing of fathers and family members are also addressed. The implications of their argument sets the stage for the discussions of prevention and management in the remaining sections of the book. Ethics in Obstetrics and Gynecology is a unique addition to the literature in both biomedical ethics and obstetrics and gynecology. It demonstrates that ethics should be regarded as an essential part of obstetrics and gynecology, and that clinical practice is incomplete without it.

"Like all clinicians, reproductive health care providers face specialty-specific ethical questions. However, the first editor of this book, Dr. Julie Chor (JC), has never found an ethics text that is tailored to the needs of practicing clinicians, students, and trainees in Reproductive Healthcare. This is an unfortunate gap in the literature, because whether reproductive health providers come from Obstetrics and Gynecology, Family Medicine, Pediatrics or another field, they all must be able to identify and analyze complex ethical issues that lie at the crossroads of patient decision-making, scientific advancement, political controversy, government regulation, and profound moral considerations in the context of continually evolving medical, legal, and societal factors. To fill this gap, Dr. Chor invited co-editor Professor Katie Watson (KW) to partner in creating the text that she has always longed to use but has never found as an Obstetrician-Gynecologist practicing and teaching in this complex milieu"--

Why ethics for midwives? -- Existing ethical codes, guidelines, and value statements -- Privacy and confidentiality -- Informed consent/choice -- Who is the client? -- Multiple relationships -- Scope of practice and competence -- Working with other professionals -- Client non-compliance and termination of care -- Diversity, equity, and justice -- Addressing ethical concerns -- Ethical thinking, caring, and decision-making.

The Oxford Textbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology is an objective and readable text that covers the full speciality of obstetrics and gynaecology. This comprehensive and rigorously referenced textbook will be a vital resource in print and online for all practising clinicians. Edited by a team of four leading figures in the field, whose clinical and scientific backgrounds collectively cover the whole spectrum of obstetrics and gynaecology with particular expertise in fetomaternal medicine and obstetrics, gynaecological oncology, urogynaecology, and reproductive medicine, the textbook helps inform and promote evidence-based practice and improve clinical outcomes worldwide across all facets of the discipline. The editors are supported by contributors who are internationally renowned specialists and ensure high quality and global perspective to the work. Larger sections on the Basics in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Fetomaternal Medicine, Management of Labour, Gynaecological problems, and Gynaecological Oncology are complimented by specialist sections on areas such as Neonatal Care and Neonatal Problems, Reproductive Medicine, and Urogynaecology and Pelvic Floor Disorders to name a few. The evidence-based presentation of diagnostic and therapeutic methods is complemented in the text by numerous treatment algorithms, giving the reader the knowledge and tools needed for effective clinical practice. The Oxford Textbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology is essential reading for obstetricians and gynaecologists, subspecialists, and trainees across the world.

Historically associated with military service, conscientious objection has become a significant phenomenon in health care. Mark Wicclair offers a comprehensive ethical analysis of conscientious objection in three representative health care professions: medicine, nursing and pharmacy. He critically examines two extreme positions: the 'incompatibility thesis', that it is contrary to the professional obligations of practitioners to refuse provision of any service within the scope of their professional competence; and 'conscience absolutism', that they should be exempted from performing any action contrary to their conscience. He argues for a compromise approach that accommodates conscience-based refusals within the limits of specified ethical constraints. He also explores conscientious objection by students in each of the three professions, discusses conscience protection legislation and conscience-based refusals by pharmacies and hospitals, and analyzes several cases. His book is a valuable resource for scholars, professionals, trainees, students, and anyone interested in this increasingly important aspect of health care.

The Vision of the Future of Obstetrics & Gynecology, An Issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics, E-Book