Unfinished feticide.

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.

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.

PIP: The issue of unfinished feticide is one of great importance to practicing physicians. Because of possible legal repercussions, a discussion of these repercussions will be of a great benefit. Abortion is a procedure that women need and as such it should be developed to the greatest possible degree. Nonsurgical abortion and selective feticide are both examples of this development. However, they also both present risks to physicians. The dangers of unfinished feticide are clear and present for the medical profession. Both can fail or go unfinished and result in the birth of a abnormal infant. This can lead to legal action against the practicing physician. Currently there is little legal protection for physicians in the civil law. The author's recommendation is that doctors can best protect themselves by ensuring that induced abortions are quick, clean and final.

PMID: 2195170 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

PMCID: PMC1375929