Mother v Fetus: who wins?
Document Type
Journal Article
Faculty
Faculty of Computing, Health and Science
School
School of Nursing and Public Health
RAS ID
2009
Abstract
This article examines the right of pregnant women to determine what will happen to their own bodies and whether their right to autonomy is absolute when refusing treatment which may be consider in their best interests and/or their fetuses'. A theoretical framework is used supported by relevant legal cases to argue that in some instance the rights of women to refuse treatment, most notably caesarean section have been overridden in favour of the fetus. The conclusion from the legal cases is that despite the consequences a woman's rights should not be overridden in favour of the fetus.
DOI
10.1016/S1031-170X(03)80012-0
Comments
Newnham, H. (2003). Mother v fetus: who wins?. Australian Midwifery, 16(1), 23-26. Available here