Ethics of maternal-fetal surgery

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Surgical Innovation
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

• Maternal-fetal surgery is transitioning from experimental to standard practice.
• Ethical considerations are crucial for this transition.
• Existing frameworks may not fully address the complexities of maternal-fetal interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish an ethical framework for investigating maternal-fetal surgery.
• To provide criteria for assessing clinical trials in this field.
• To guide physicians in ethical decision-making for maternal-fetal surgical procedures.

Main Methods:

• Development of a comprehensive ethical framework.
• Analysis of criteria for clinical trial initiation and assessment.
• Consideration of informed consent processes and patient selection criteria.
• Examination of physician obligations to patients and future patients.

Main Results:

• The framework addresses the ethical initiation and assessment of maternal-fetal surgery trials.
• It emphasizes the importance of informed consent and patient autonomy, including abortion preferences.
• It outlines physician duties towards pregnant women, fetal patients, and future patients.

Conclusions:

• An ethical framework is essential for the responsible transition of maternal-fetal surgery to standard of care.
• The framework ensures scientific rigor and ethical patient treatment.
• Application of the framework is illustrated using fetal surgery for spina bifida.