| Protecting fetuses from certain harm. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 12408145 Owner: KIE Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
Deborah Mathieu's proposal for state intervention in the lives of pregnant substance abusers in order to prevent serious harm to their future children sparked a lively debate in this journal. The present discussion characterizes the three main arguments offered against her proposal as (a) the "uncertainty principle"--the inability to predict which fetuses will be affected, (b) the "father factor"--gender bias with respect to prenatal damage, and (c) "critical periods"--the vulnerability of the embryo/fetus at different times of pregnancy. Each of these arguments is examined in the specific context of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Since the birth of a child with FAS is a virtual certainty if a woman has previously given birth to a child with FAS, since no father has ever sired a child with FAS unless his spouse is an alcoholic, and since the most damaging effects are those associated with exposure throughout and especially late in pregnancy, none of the arguments offered against Mathieu's proposal are relevant in this particularly narrow set of circumstances. While Mathieu's proposal seems pertinent in this situation, her proposal would be even more effective if modified as suggested here. |
| | |
Authors:
|
E L Abel |
Related Documents
:
|
19429395 - Alterations in rat fetal morphology following abuse patterns of toluene exposure. 20407975 - Addiction in pregnancy. 11108925 - Pregnancy and medical radiation. 1565365 - Risks associated with cocaine use during pregnancy. 9584945 - Secretory proteins of the baboon (papio anubis) endometrium: regulation during the mens... 18807815 - Susceptibility of pregnant women to toxoplasma infection--potential benefits for newbor... |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Politics and the life sciences : the journal of the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences Volume: 17 ISSN: 0730-9384 ISO Abbreviation: Politics Life Sci Publication Date: 1998 Sep |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2002-10-30 Completed Date: 2003-01-02 Revised Date: 2007-08-31 |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 8800535 Medline TA: Politics Life Sci Country: United States |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 113-7 Citation Subset: E |
Affiliation:
|
Departments of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA. e.abel@wayne.edu |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
Child Child Welfare / legislation & jurisprudence* Coercion Fathers Female Fetal Alcohol Syndrome / prevention & control* Freedom Government Regulation* Humans Male Mandatory Programs* Pregnancy Pregnant Women* Prejudice Substance-Related Disorders Uncertainty Voluntary Programs* |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Ethics and genetics: susceptibility testing in the workplace.
Next Document: Ethical debates in genetic engineering: U.S. scientists' attitudes on patenting, germ-line research,...