Description of the Problem
Women are more vulnerable than men because of prejudices and stereotypes about their social roles. Pregnancy and childbirth are women’s abilities, so the mother-fetus relationship has long been studied in medicine. This relationship is complex due to ethical constraints and the lack of valuable medical information that affects the outcome of childbirth (Schmitz & Clarke, 2021). The problems associated with maternal-fetal care stem from the difficulties in providing maternal care and organizing care for both the woman and the fetus (Schmitz & Clarke, 2021). Ethical dilemmas create limitations for the creation of a unified and understandable system of care organization.
Key Points
When examining issues related to maternal-fetal care, attention should be paid to the conditions in which the pregnant woman lives because they determine the social opportunities for medical support. In addition, it should be accepted that the bodies of the mother and the fetus are different, so all interventions should be perceived in two ways (Chervenak & McCullough, 2021). In making decisions, medicine usually relies on fundamental ethical principles of medical care, namely the autonomy and rights of the mother (Minkoff & Ecker, 2021). This raises the question of what kind of care for the fetus is in question if the mother’s opinion is the dominant one (D’Alton et al., 2019). Based on this, interdisciplinary collaboration and maintaining a trusting relationship with the mother could be the best solution in maternal-fetal care.
Population
As stated, the main target population of the problem is women who are already pregnant and who are potentially going to have a baby. In addition, some women are not going to be pregnant at all but are at risk of becoming pregnant and cannot have an abortion (Epstein, 2008). Issues related to pregnancy affect any woman, but the black population can be expected to be more susceptible. This is because economic and social inequality does not allow women of color to have insurance or access to health care. The problem probably affects cultures more than those with pronounced religious identities because many religions value fetal life and do not value women’s lives and roles in society enough.
Other critical social identities are sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. Women with a heterosexual orientation have a higher risk of facing pregnancy than those with a homosexual orientation. A significant difference in their pregnancy care is related to the pressure women feel from society to remain pregnant and place the rights of the fetus above the women (Minkoff & Ecker, 2021). Socioeconomic status largely determines the extent to which women are willing to invest in supporting their health and that of the fetus. Despite insurance, pregnancy care is much more costly than it seems and requires considerable effort to organize care.
Society’s Influence
Society exerts pressure on women who have problems with maternal-fetal care. Religious parts of society forbid women from choosing their rights and autonomy, so women from religious communes, even at the risk of their health, choose to keep the fetus alive. In addition, social beliefs force women to be more empathic so they can feel more empathy and protect the fetus without understanding the harm to themselves (D’Alton et al., 2019). Similarly, society dictates the ethical rules applicable to maternal-fetal care, thereby limiting medical care. Until a change in public attitudes about the value of maternal life is achieved, we can expect women to continue to encounter care problems.
Reasons for Choice
This issue was chosen in light of the urgency of pregnancy management issues and the end of the Medicaid act to perform abortions. The unstable economic and political climate creates social tensions, so the relationship between social classes and their attitudes should be explored in depth. Identifying potential solutions and ways to manage maternal-fetal care can make providing women with all kinds of help and psychological support throughout their pregnancies easier.
Thesis statement
When it comes to maternal-fetal care for women who are pregnant or about to become pregnant, the problem arises from the lack of sufficient protection by the state, healthcare, and society to fully respect the ethical principles of providing medical care to both mother and fetus.
References
Chervenak, F., & McCullough, L. (2021). Ethically justified, practical guidance for the professionally responsible investigation of maternal-fetal intervention for fetal or neonatal benefit. Maternal-Fetal Medicine 3(3), 208-212. Web.
D’Alton, M. E., Friedman, A. M., Bernstein, P. S., Brown, H. L., Callaghan, W. M., Clark, S. L., Grobman, W. A., Kilpatrick, S. J., O’Keeffe, D. F., Montgomery, D. M., Srinivas, S. K., Wendel, G. D., Wenstrom, K. D., & Foley, M. R. (2019). Putting the “M” back in maternal-fetal medicine: A 5-year report card on a collaborative effort to address maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 221(4), 311–317. Web.
Epstein, A. (2008). The business of being born. Paulo Netto.
Minkoff, H., & Ecker, J. (2021). Balancing risks: Making decisions for maternal treatment without data on fetal safety. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 224(5), 479–483. Web.
Schmitz, D., & Clarke, A. (2021). Ethics experts and fetal patients: A proposal for modesty. BMC Medical Ethics, 22(1), 161. Web.