Professional Ethics in Obstetrics and Gynecology

A comprehensive, accessible approach to the everyday ethical challenges faced in obstetric and gynecological practice. Offering practical guidance for practitioners at all levels, the text also provides a sustained exploration of professional ethics in the intersection of obstetrics and gynecology with psychiatry. Drawing on their award-winning teaching, the authors start each chapter with goals, objectives, topics, and a list of key concepts, which are defined in a separate section. Chapters cover a multitude of topics, from pregnancy and the quest for the 'perfect' baby to end-of-life care - all underpinned by the need for professionally responsible research, advocacy, and health policy. Professional Ethics in Obstetrics and Gynecology is an indispensable resource for both trainee and practicing obstetricians and gynecologists. A chapter devoted solely to pedagogy in professional ethics in obstetrics and gynecology supports the readers' learning and those with or without formal training in ethics to teach students, residents, and colleagues.

Preface; Acknowledgements; Part I. Professional Ethics in Obstetrics and Gynecology: 1. Professional ethics in medicine; 2. Professional ethics in obstetrics and gynecology; 3. Decision making by, with, and for patients; 4. Confidentiality; 5. Conflicts of interest and conflicts of commitment; Part II. Pedagogy of Professional Ethics in Obstetrics and Gynecology: 6. Teaching professional ethics in obstetrics and gynecology; Part III. Professionally Responsible Clinical Practice: 7. Prevention of pregnancy; 8. Initiation of pregnancy; 9. Induced abortion and feticide; 10. Fetal analysis; 11. Periviability; 12. Intrapartum management; 13. The perfect baby; 14. Cancer and pregnancy; 15. Setting ethically justified limits on clinical management; Part IV. Professionally Responsible Leadership: 16. Leadership; Part V. Professionally Responsible Innovation and Research: 17. Clinical innovation and research; Part VI. Professionally Responsible Health Policy and Advocacy: 18. Health policy and advocacy; Key concepts; Index.

Laurence B. McCullough is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, New York.
Frank A. Chervenak is Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Associate Dean for International Medicine at Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, New York.
John H. Coverdale is Professor of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences and Medical Ethics at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas.