PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - R P Jansen
TI  - Unfinished feticide.
AID  - 10.1136/jme.16.2.61
DP  - 1990 Jun 01
TA  - Journal of Medical Ethics
PG  - 61--70
VI  - 16
IP  - 2
4099  - http://jme.bmj.com/content/16/2/61.short
4100  - http://jme.bmj.com/content/16/2/61.full
SO  - J Med Ethics1990 Jun 01; 16
AB  - A fetus may survive an intentional interference with its intrauterine environment (1) if gestational age is mistaken and the procedure of induced abortion does not kill the fetus, (2) if a change of heart takes place after abortifacient drugs are taken and the abortion does not proceed, and (3) if a high-multiple pregnancy is reduced to a singleton or a twin pregnancy to improve the likelihood that the remaining fetuses will reach viability. In each case, through cause or coincidence, an abnormal baby may be born. The well-intentioned physician, responding to a patient's medical or psychological needs, risks a legal action in negligence or assault brought by a deformed surviving child. This hazard means that medical termination of pregnancy and selective pregnancy reduction put the practising physician at substantial risk in a way not usually associated with induced abortion.