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Solidarity in perinatal medicine.
B Cadore1, P Boitte, G Demijnck
1Centre d'ethique medicale, Universite catholique de Lille, 56, rue du Port, F - 59 046 Lille, Cedex, France. bcadore.cem@fupl.asso.fr
Ethical Theory and Moral Practice : an International Forum
|March 16, 2004
Summary
Decisions regarding medical treatment for severely handicapped newborns require more than just medical ethics. A broader perspective including social justice is essential for these complex perinatal medicine cases.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal Medicine
- Medical Ethics
- Bioethics
Background:
- Ethical dilemmas in perinatal medicine
- Treatment decisions for severely handicapped infants
- Limitations of traditional medical deontology
Purpose of the Study:
- To argue for a broader context in treatment decisions for severely handicapped children
- To explore the social significance of medical practice in perinatal care
- To integrate social justice into ethical considerations
Main Methods:
- Philosophical analysis of medical ethics
- Discussion of social justice principles
- Examination of the social implications of medical interventions
Main Results:
- General medical aims and deontology are insufficient for complex perinatal cases
- Decisions require consideration of social justice
- The social significance of medicine must inform treatment choices
Conclusions:
- Ethical frameworks for perinatal medicine must extend beyond internal medical principles
- Social justice is a critical component in addressing treatment/non-treatment of severely handicapped newborns
- Medical practice's social role necessitates a broader ethical evaluation