PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - John Wyatt TI - Medical paternalism and the fetus AID - 10.1136/jme.27.suppl_2.ii15 DP - 2001 Oct 01 TA - Journal of Medical Ethics PG - ii15--ii20 VI - 27 IP - suppl 2 4099 - http://jme.bmj.com/content/27/suppl_2/ii15.short 4100 - http://jme.bmj.com/content/27/suppl_2/ii15.full SO - J Med Ethics2001 Oct 01; 27 AB - A number of developments in the medical field have changed the debate about the ethics of abortion. These developments include: advances in fetal physiology, the increase in neonatal intensive care and the survival rates of premature infants. This paper discusses the idea of selective termination and the effects that these decisions have on disabled people of today. It presents a critique of the counselling services that are provided for the parents of a disabled fetus and discusses how this is viewed from a social perspective. The article ends with an argument that the mother deserves to be autonomous in the decision of abortion. The easiest and most fair way to develop her autonomy is to consider the relationship between a professional and a mother as an expert–expert relationship. Here both parties are considered experts in diagnostic information, treatment options, possibilities, and their history, family roots, philosophy and way of life, respectively.