Let's take this example to the next level. The woman smokes her entire
pregnancy (warned or not) and delivers a small, sickly baby prematurely.
If the docs are confident that mom's smoking compromised the pregnancy
and baby's growth, do they inform her of this at this point in time or
do they withhold this conclusion so as not to make her feel guilty?
--------------------------------------------------------------

Let's take it to the next level still. If the mother smoked because she
didn't really know that  it was such a problem because no one told her
(not a great example in the US, but you get the idea) to what extent
are the doctor and others in the health care system responsible for the
outcome because they didn't inform her of the risks of smoking during
pregnancy? This is an ethical question, and becoming a legal one as
well in various areas.

The problem is that breastfeeding and formula feeding are seen as
equivalent choices, so it doesn't REALLY matter which one you do, so
why make women feel bad for picking the other choice. It is not seen as
an ethical problem.

Naomi
--------------------------------
Naomi Bar-Yam Ph.D.
[log in to unmask]

Researcher, Writer, Educator
in Maternal and Child Health
--------------------------------

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