PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Dominic Wilkinson
TI  - Fatal fetal paternalism
AID  - 10.1136/medethics-2012-100542
DP  - 2012 Jul 01
TA  - Journal of Medical Ethics
PG  - 396--397
VI  - 38
IP  - 7
4099  - http://jme.bmj.com/content/38/7/396.short
4100  - http://jme.bmj.com/content/38/7/396.full
SO  - J Med Ethics2012 Jul 01; 38
AB  - Heuser and colleagues' survey of obstetricians provides a valuable insight into the current management of severe fetal anomalies in the United States. Their survey reveals two striking features - that counselling for these anomalies is far from neutral, and that there is significant variability between clinicians in their approach to management. In this commentary I outline the reasons to be concerned about both of these. Directiveness in counselling arguably represents a form of paternalism, and the evident variability in practice is likely the result of physician personal values. However, Heuser's survey may, by shining a light on practice, provide an important step towards a more consistent approach.