Book contents
- Complex Ethics Consultations
- Reviews
- Complex Ethics Consultations
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Additional Contributors to the Second Edition
- Contributors to the First Edition (Original Biographies from the First Edition)
- Foreword to the First Edition
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Introduction to the First Edition
- Part IStarting at the Beginning
- Chapter 1Quality of Life – and of Ethics Consultation – in the NICU
- Chapter 2When a Baby Dies in Pain
- Chapter 3But How Can We Choose?
- Chapter 4Maternal–Fetal Surgery and the “Profoundest Question in Ethics”
- Commentary 1Reflections on Part I
- Part IIThe Most Vulnerable of Us
- Part IIIDiversity of Desires and Limits of Liberty
- Part IVWithholding Therapy with a Twist
- Part VThe Unspeakable/Unassailable
- Part VIHuman Guinea Pigs and Miracles
- Part VIIThe Big Picture:
- Conclusions, Educational Activities, and References (Revised for Second Edition)
- Index
- References
Chapter 3 - But How Can We Choose?
from Part I - Starting at the Beginning
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 May 2025
Book contents
- Complex Ethics Consultations
- Reviews
- Complex Ethics Consultations
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Additional Contributors to the Second Edition
- Contributors to the First Edition (Original Biographies from the First Edition)
- Foreword to the First Edition
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Introduction to the First Edition
- Part IStarting at the Beginning
- Chapter 1Quality of Life – and of Ethics Consultation – in the NICU
- Chapter 2When a Baby Dies in Pain
- Chapter 3But How Can We Choose?
- Chapter 4Maternal–Fetal Surgery and the “Profoundest Question in Ethics”
- Commentary 1Reflections on Part I
- Part IIThe Most Vulnerable of Us
- Part IIIDiversity of Desires and Limits of Liberty
- Part IVWithholding Therapy with a Twist
- Part VThe Unspeakable/Unassailable
- Part VIHuman Guinea Pigs and Miracles
- Part VIIThe Big Picture:
- Conclusions, Educational Activities, and References (Revised for Second Edition)
- Index
- References
Summary
In this chapter of Complex Ethics Consultations: Cases that Haunt Us, the author explores the misunderstandings that can arise when there are no good options but a decision must be made. Zaner discusses the complex emotions faced by a pregnant woman carrying a fetus at 22 weeks gestational age and neural tube defect. She is referred to the maternal-fetal unit. She faced a decision about whether to terminate the pregnancy based on uncertain information and a two-week deadline to make a decision. The author reflects on the ethical dimensions so many parents face when either decision is irreversible and information is tenuous, but a treatment decision must still be made.
Information
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Complex Ethics ConsultationsCases that Haunt Us, pp. 27 - 32Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025
References
The first published account of this story appeared in J Clin Ethics, Fall 2005; 218–22.Google Scholar
Schutz, A. Symbol, reality and society. In: Natanson, M, ed. Alfred Schutz: Collected Papers I. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, 1971; 287–356.Google Scholar
Frank, A. Experiencing illness through storytelling. In: Toombs, SK, ed. Handbook of Phenomenology and Medicine. Dordrecht: Kluwer, 2001; 241.Google Scholar
Accessibility standard: Unknown
Why this information is here
This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.Accessibility Information
Accessibility compliance for the HTML of this chapter is currently unknown and may be updated in the future.