Ethical and Legal Issues at the Beginning of Life Flashcards
What are the 4 points that must be met for an abortion to be legal
2 restored practitioners agree that 1 statutory requirement is met
Carried out by registered Dr
Procedure carried out in approved place
Notified to Chief medical officer in DofH
What are the 4 statuatory requirements
Within 24wks, continuation would involve risk to mother or family
Needed to prevent grave/permanent injury to physical;/MH of mother
Risk to life of mother
Risk of child being born with physical/mental handicap
What is the moral status of abortion
-2 main points
- determine moral rights of fetus
- find a solution between fetal and mother’s rights
What 3 points would you consider when balancing fetal abnormalities and abortion
Case by case basis
- probability of effective treatment
- likely degree of self awareness and communication of suffering experienced
- extent of dependency
What is conscientious objection
- when does it apply
- when does it not apply
What are the problems with this
Only applies to those who assist in medical intervention
DOES NOT APPLY WHEN IT IS NEEDED TO SAVE A LIFE PR PREVENT GRAVE PERMANENT INJURY TO MOTHER
Can opt out of an abortion due to
-personal beliefs
Must not result in discrimination against groups of patients due to your beliefs
What is the current law on age and capacity
16+ = capacity assumed unless proven otherwise 16- = Gillick test, must maintain confidentiality unless safeguarding
When and where can medical termination take place
Within 10wks
At home
What is the current law on abortions based on sex of the child
Sex specific abortions not illegal
BMA considers it unethical unless severe sex linked disorder
What are the rights of the rather in abortion
Cannot prevent mother from aborting
How can antenatal screening aid the decision to abort
Downs, anomalies at 20wks
-give more info for informed choice
What are the father’s rights in ART
Can use frozen sperm
What are the mother’s rights during medical treatments
Autonomy but has moral obligation not to harm the fetus
-can refuse life saving treatment for her/fetus is she has capacity
What are the 2 main issues with preimplantation genetic diagnosis
Screening for susceptibility
-might not cause disease
Other embryos discarded
-create an environment where disability is looked down on
What are the conflicts that exist in
- professional duties
- MCA
- parental decisions
- resource limitations
Professional duties
-respect and protect life against duty not to inflict inhuman treatments
MCA
-act in best interests
Parental decisions
-if resolution not made => PALS => Clinical Ethics Committees => court involvement
Resource limitations
-should not motivate decisions, focus on whether care is appropriate
When would it be lawful to withdraw LST
Not in best interests
-life limited in quantity and quality
