Ethics in Midwifery

Part 1 Ethical theory: introduction - is ethical reasoning part of everyday life?, what is ethics?, what is a moral issue?, what is a moral dilemma?, what is a moral conflict?, how do we resolve the conflicts - do we need ethical theories?, ethical theories, utilitarianism - act-utilitarianism, rule-utilitarianism, some criticisms of utilitarianism, deontology - rational monism, "traditional" deontology, intuitionistic pluralism, another alternative?, suggested reading, references. Part 2 Case studies: introduction - references; confidentiality - case study, questions for consideration by the reader, further discussion - infringement of confidentiality, infringement of privacy, for whom is confidentiality/privacy important?, when do health care workers need to consider confidentiality, applying the theories, suggested reading concerning confidentiality, suggested reading concerning child abuse, references; accountability - case study, questions for consideration by the reader, further discussion - FOR whom and what is the midwife accountable?, TO whom is the midwife accountable?, applying the theories, suggested reading, references; autonomy and consent - case study, questions for consideration by the reader, further discussion - autonomy, paternalism, consent, applying the theories, suggested reading regarding autonomy and consent, suggested reading regarding artificial rupture of the membranes, references; screening for fetal abnormality - case study, questions for consideration by the reader, further discussion - chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis, the effects of late testing, abortion, applying the theories, suggested reading, references; maternal versus fetal rights - case study, questions for consideration by the reader, further discussion, applying the theories, suggested reading, references; resource allocation - case study, questions for consideration by the reader, further discussion - practical constraints to setting up an in-vitro fertilization programme, ethical consideration, applying the theories, suggested reading regarding assisted reproduction, references.