The fetus as a patient: A contested concept and its normative implications

Dagmar Schmitz (Editor), Angus Clarke (Editor), Wybo Dondorp (Editor)

Research output: Book/ReportBook editingAcademic

Abstract

Due to new developments in prenatal testing and therapy the fetus is increasingly visible, examinable and treatable in prenatal care. Accordingly, physicians tend to perceive the fetus as a patient and understand themselves as having certain professional duties towards it. However, it is far from clear what it means to speak of a patient in this connection. This volume explores the usefulness and limitations of the concept of ‘fetal patient’ against the background of the recent seminal developments in prenatal or fetal medicine. It does so from an interdisciplinary and international perspective. Featuring internationally recognized experts in the field, the book discusses the normative implications of the concept of ‘fetal patient’ from a philosophical-theoretical as well as from a legal perspective. This includes its implications for the autonomy of the pregnant woman as well as its consequences for physician-patient-interactions in prenatal medicine.
Original languageEnglish
PublisherTaylor and Francis
Number of pages213
ISBN (Electronic)9781351692786
ISBN (Print)9781138047488
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2018

Publication series

SeriesBiomedical Law and Ethics Library

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