Preventing Prenatal Harm: Should the State Intervene? Second Edition

by Deborah Mathieu

Overview

Arguing that the state must meet strict conditions to justify interfering in at-risk pregnancies, Deborah Mathieu examines the legal and ethical concerns that arise when governments mandate the behavior of pregnant women. She explores both the pregnant woman's right to decide what happens to her body and the future child's right to be protected from avoidable damage. Mathieu addresses such topics as reproductive hazards in the workplace, mandated fetal therapy, forced lifestyle changes for pregnant women, and the future child's right to sue for lack of prenatal care. The controversy raises key issues of rights, duties, and the scope of legitimate state action, thus posing fundamental challenges to the fields of medicine, biomedical ethics, law, and public policy.

This edition has been completely updated and expanded. Mathieu presents new arguments for acceptable types of state intervention and provides specific examples. This edition also incorporates recent court decisions, especially cases involving substance abuse. The book includes both an updated bibliography and an updated reference list of relevant court cases.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780878406005
Publisher:	Georgetown University Press
Publication date:	11/01/1995
Series:	Clinical Medical Ethics series
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.63(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Deborah Mathieu is an associate professor in the political science department at the University of Arizona.

Editorial Reviews

A highly readable, eminently sensible book. . . . Mathieu sensitively balances the claims of the future child against the pregnant woman's rights to privacy and self-determination. . . . Preventing Prenatal Harm should be required reading for all those likely to face such a decision.

Bioethics

Mathieu's book is clear, succinct, and philosophically astute. Those working on reproductive ethics will find it a useful reference since it summarizes legal cases well and supports empirical claims with a wealth of medical date.

Ethics

Her arguments are masterfully marshalled. For those interested in the subject matter, this book is now their point of departure—regardless of their terminus.

Theological Studies

Reviewer: Elizabeth L. Shangle, MD (Loyola University Medical Center)
Description: This book addresses the difficult and complicated question of whether the state should intervene in prenatal care, a particularly sensitive healthcare situation because there are two patients involved. The author explores the issue of maternal-fetal conflicts and the legal and ethical responsibilities of the state as well as those of society in general.
Purpose: The purpose is to analyze the problem of preventable prenatal harm and to offer arguments for what solutions may be open to the state and to society. An intricate combination of moral, legal, and practical points of view are used to argue the pros and cons of intervention and the scope of that intervention.
Audience: With the very complete discussion of the legal and ethical issues, this book could be used by students as well as those more versed in these subjects.
Features: The book is well organized with an introductory section and a review of the basic issues. Following this are arguments for and against intervention, and then discussion of applying these principles in practical situations. The final chapter suggests that a broader policy of social reform be considered over and above any question of legislative intervention and presents the conclusions of the book.
Assessment: This book is an exhaustive discussion of the arguments for and against state intervention in preventing prenatal harm, and it will be helpful for those who need a detailed overview of the ethical and legal considerations of this subject. The information, however, is somewhat repetitive, and the conclusions seem to present only vague suggestions for solutions to the problems presented. In addition, the lack of the medical viewpoint or any expert contribution regarding the role of the medical system in this important public health question means the book falls short of the goal of considering all aspects of the issue.

Doody's Review Service

This book addresses the difficult and complicated question of whether the state should intervene in prenatal care, a particularly sensitive healthcare situation because there are two patients involved. The author explores the issue of maternal-fetal conflicts and the legal and ethical responsibilities of the state as well as those of society in general. The purpose is to analyze the problem of preventable prenatal harm and to offer arguments for what solutions may be open to the state and to society. An intricate combination of moral, legal, and practical points of view are used to argue the pros and cons of intervention and the scope of that intervention. With the very complete discussion of the legal and ethical issues, this book could be used by students as well as those more versed in these subjects. The book is well organized with an introductory section and a review of the basic issues. Following this are arguments for and against intervention, and then discussion of applying these principles in practical situations. The final chapter suggests that a broader policy of social reform be considered over and above any question of legislative intervention and presents the conclusions of the book. This book is an exhaustive discussion of the arguments for and against state intervention in preventing prenatal harm, and it will be helpful for those who need a detailed overview of the ethical and legal considerations of this subject. The information, however, is somewhat repetitive, and the conclusions seem to present only vague suggestions for solutions to the problems presented. In addition, the lack of the medical viewpoint or any expert contribution regarding the role of themedical system in this important public health question means the book falls short of the goal of considering all aspects of the issue.

Elizabeth L. Shangle