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The Baby Doe regulations: views from perinatal social workers
1Department of Pediatrics, East Carolina University School of Medicine, Greenville, NC 27835.
Summary
The "Baby Doe" regulations aimed to protect handicapped infants. Perinatal social workers evaluated their impact on infant rights, physician discretion, and parental involvement.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Public Health Policy
- Social Work
Background:
- The "Baby Doe" regulations were enacted by the federal government in 1984.
- These regulations were specifically designed to safeguard the rights of infants with handicaps.
- Concerns about the implementation and effectiveness of these regulations prompted further evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact and helpfulness of the "Baby Doe" regulations.
- To gather and analyze comments from perinatal social workers regarding the regulations.
- To explore the implications of the regulations on physician discretion, parental rights, and the social work profession.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to members of the National Association of Perinatal Social Workers.
- Participants were asked to evaluate the "Baby Doe" regulations.
- Qualitative comments regarding the regulations' impact were collected and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Social workers provided feedback on the practical helpfulness of the "Baby Doe" regulations.
- The comments addressed the extent of physician discretion in applying the regulations.
- Feedback also covered the influence of the regulations on parental rights and the role of social workers in perinatal care.
Conclusions:
- The "Baby Doe" regulations had a notable impact on the care of handicapped infants.
- Perinatal social workers' perspectives offer valuable insights into the regulations' effectiveness and challenges.
- The findings highlight the complex interplay between federal policy, medical practice, parental autonomy, and social work intervention.