When Reproductive Freedom Encounters Medical Responsibility : Changing Conceptions of Reproductive Choice

摘要

One of the major points of conflict between future parents and medical professionnels concerns access to reproductive technology. But other kinds of conflict also arise in the course of treatment, even in cases where access to treatment is considered legitimate. These conflicts imply making decisions about what constitutes an acceptable risk for the woman and for the future child, a question which may at first appear to be a technical question. Medical responsibility remains an essential deontological value in these situations, but cannot be invoqued as the only valid reference. The extension and the limits of medical responsibility must be reviewed in the light of other values, such as the reproductive freedom and autonomy of patients.