The Unborn Patient

It is now possible for physicians to recognize that a pregnant woman's fetus is facing life-threatening problems, perform surgery on the fetus, and if it survives, return it to the woman's uterus to finish gestation. Although fetal surgery has existed in various forms for three decades, it is only just beginning to capture the public's imagination. These still largely experimental procedures raise all types of medical, political and ethical questions. The Making of the Unborn Patient examines two important and connected events of the second half of the 20th century: the emergence of fetal surgery as a new medical specialty and the debut of the unborn patient.

A new edition of this state-of-the-art reference on the diagnosis and management of the abnormal foetus. Expanding on the first edition, this text brings together the expertise of 50 world specialists with up-to-date coverage of prenatal diagnostic techniques and therapeutic options. The book outlines the pathophysiology, options for management and technical aspects of treatment for each disorder.

This popular reference returns in the 3rd edition with an exciting new focus entirely committed to fetal therapy. Leading authorities from around the world provide comprehensive management strategies for several dozen diseases that can now be detected in utero. Each disease is covered in its own chapter providing all of the exciting new options in prenatal and postnatal treatment. Coverage includes updated information on pathophysiology and the technical aspects of treatment. This content also provides excellent teaching material for families considering or undergoing treatment. The only textbook on the fetus as patient focussing entirely on fetal therapy. Extensively revised chapters present the very latest techniques. Coverage of Fetendo surgerywith complete descriptions of the technical innovations since the last edition. Chapters on intervention techniques including open surgery, Fetendo surgery, and catheters and shunts. New chapterson maternal safety and tocolysis, tissue engineering, stem cell transplantation, gene therapy, robotics in surgery, homeobox genes, myelo-meningocele, fetal MRI, preterm labor, and postnatal follow-up and outcomes for infants undergoing fetal intervention. International authorship by world authorities in perinatology and pediatric surgery Outstanding new illustration program containing new line drawings, photographs, and informative cartoons perfect for use in talks and presentations.

Due to new developments in prenatal testing and therapy the fetus is increasingly visible, examinable and treatable in prenatal care. Accordingly, physicians tend to perceive the fetus as a patient and understand themselves as having certain professional duties towards it. However, it is far from clear what it means to speak of a patient in this connection. This volume explores the usefulness and limitations of the concept of ‘fetal patient’ against the background of the recent seminal developments in prenatal or fetal medicine. It does so from an interdisciplinary and international perspective. Featuring internationally recognized experts in the field, the book discusses the normative implications of the concept of ‘fetal patient’ from a philosophical-theoretical as well as from a legal perspective. This includes its implications for the autonomy of the pregnant woman as well as its consequences for physician-patient-interactions in prenatal medicine.

INTRODUCTION: FETAL STORIES; 1. Discovering Fetal Life, 1870s-1920s; 2. Interpreting Fetal Bodies, 1930s-1970s; 3. Defining Fetal Personhood, 1973-1976; 4. Defending Fetal Rights: 1970s-1990s; 5. Debating Fetal Pain, 1984-2007; EPILOGUE: FETAL MEANINGS; NOTES; BIBLIOGRAPHY.

From preconception care through all aspects of care of the pregnant mother and newborn infant, Clinical Obstetrics provides comprehensive, authoritative information on today’s obstetrics and maternal-fetal medicine. The fourth edition has been streamlined with concise chapters summarizing clinical content for busy practitioners. The eBook provides expanded content and exciting new animations and interactive decision-making algorithms. Together, the print and eBook offer residents, trainees, and all obstetrics and maternal-fetal practitioners a comprehensive resource featuring the most up-to-date guidelines, decision algorithms, and evidence for clinical practice.

A comprehensive, practical guide to professional ethics in obstetrics and gynecology for those with or without training in medical ethics.