Question

15. How might court views on Maternal Fetal Conflict negatively impact the autonomy of pregnant women? Is this in line with justice (all should be treated equally?)

Answer 1

Maternal fetal conflict is one very tender area to deal with for any clinician. This occurs when the mother denies helpful health care interventions for the fetus ( like not doing proper antenatal visits, not allowing blood transfusion in emergency ) or the mother's habits cause harm to the fetus (like smoking, alcohol or substance abuse ).

The latest technology can understand more on the fetal health and can care the fetus even if born premature; makes the fetus also a patient along with the mother. So caring a pregnant woman means caring two patients together and it is a tricky situation for the clinician when the maternal fetal conflict arises.

Normally , the clinicians do not want the legal force to be implied on the pregnant lady, as it hinders with her autonomy. The lady has all the individual rights to be autonomous , but the court may sometimes interfere with it, if the fetus is denied of its health.

The court intervening the conflict may definitely have some psychological impact on the woman too. She may feel oppressed and may lose interest in the baby to be born and may not care the baby after birth etc. This may inflict on her psychological health too, so mostly clinicians won't prefer it to happen.

Mostly , the conflict has to be managed out of court, with compassion and care. This can be well managed with the help of family, spirituality and also the health care team. The lady can be educated and made to realize the impact of the conflict on her health and the hazards on the baby. Proper counselling sessions, rehabilitation methods and clinical care will have better effect than enforcing the law.

Conflicting situations like substance abuse and unhealthy practices by the mother can harm herself, so she has to be managed for her such habits. Rehabilitation care and dealing with her problems and fears are very important. Appropriate psychological support and teaching must be provided to her, as well as help her face the future.

Sometimes, the woman may be in very miserable situations, where she can not afford the care of the baby after birth. In such situations, she can be directed to legal agencies taking care of children or can be informed of the baby adoption facilities etc. The conflict can be managed well with proper information and problem solving.