Patient Autonomy in Prenatal Testing Practices

dc.contributor.advisorBaker, Lori
dc.contributor.authorClark, Vivienne
dc.contributor.departmentUniversity Scholars.en_US
dc.contributor.otherBaylor University.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2014-12-09T18:51:37Z
dc.date.available2014-12-09T18:51:37Z
dc.date.copyright2014-08-04
dc.date.issued2014-12-09
dc.description.abstractOf Beauchamp and Childress’ four principles of medical ethics—autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice—autonomy is often given the most priority. However, when it comes to receiving prenatal care, women face a number of external forces that compromise their ability to make autonomous decisions. These forces include: medical professional bias regarding disability and the routinization of prenatal screening tests; insufficient information provided to patients; a wide range of sociocultural circumstances, particularly familial and community pressure regarding pregnancy termination and economical considerations; and collective societal prejudice against disability. If autonomy is to be given primacy in medical ethics, expectant women need to be empowered to make fully autonomous decisions. Physicians and genetic counselors must understand the impact of factors on women’s decision-making, and not allow their biases to sway patients’ decisions. Furthermore, steps must be taken to ensure that pregnant women receive social and financial support regardless of their decision. With better information and less influence from biased external forces, women will be better equipped to make autonomous decisions regarding prenatal care.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2104/9215
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.rightsBaylor University projects are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.en_US
dc.rights.accessrightsWorldwide accessen_US
dc.titlePatient Autonomy in Prenatal Testing Practicesen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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