Synopses & Reviews
Whether, with whom, and when to have children are among the most precious of our private decisions. Increasingly, however, the interest of others in these decisions raise difficult questions about the role of government and health professionals in influencing reproductive choice. Nowhere is this tension felt more keenly than in the context of HIV and AIDS. This book takes on the tough issues related to HIV and childbearing: Is there a moral right to have children? What are the limits of persuasion? Are there constitutional constraints on interference with reproduction? What are the precedents with restricting the childbearing behavior of women who use drugs? The book includes original work by doctors, lawyers, ethicists, and public health professionals. Also included are the experiences of HIV-infected women and their health care providers. Interviews were conducted over a two-year period with HIV-infected women and with health care providers from four cities to examine what issues of childbearing in the context of HIV mean to them. The book is divided into four sections on medical and public health issues, legal issues, ethical and social issues, and comments from the community. It concludes with recommendations for clinical practice and public policy. Public policy makers, health care providers, practitioners in bioethics, pediatrics, health law, and obstetrics/gynecology will find this book invaluable when dealing with issues related to HIV and childbearing.
Synopsis
The book includes original work by doctors, lawyers, ethicists, and pu blic health professionals. Also included are the experiences of HIV-in fected women and their health care providers. Interviews were conducte d over a two-year period with HIV-infected women and with health care providers from four cities to examine what issues of childbearing in t he context of HIV mean to them. The book is divided into four sections on medical and public health issues, legal issues, ethical and social issues, and comments from the community. It concludes with recommenda tions for clinical practice and public policy. Public policy makers, h ealth care providers, practitioners in bioethics, pediatrics, health l aw, and obstetrics/gynecology will find this book invaluable when deal ing with issues related to HIV and childbearing.
About the Author
Ruth R. Faden, Ph.D., M.P.H., is the Philip Franklin Wagley Professor of Biomedical Ethics and Director of the Bioethics Institute at Johns Hopkins University. From 1994-1995, she was appointed by President Clinton to chair the Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments. Dr. Faden has published extensively in ethics and health policy, research ethics, and health behavior.
Nancy E. Kass, Sc.D., is Assistant Professor in the Program in Law, Ethics, and Health of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Dr. Kass has conducted research and authored numerous publications in bioethics and health policy, with particular focus on issues related to HIV and genetics. She also testifies and conducts advocacy work with Maryland's AIDS Legislative Committee.
Table of Contents
Part I: Medical and Public Health Issues 1. The Epidemiology of HIV and AIDS in Women, A. Saah,
2. The Clinical Course of HIV Infection in Women, L. Eldred and R. Chaisson
3. Gynecologic and Obstetrical Issues in HIV-Infected Women, J. Anderson
4. Health Prospects for children Born to HIV-Infected Women, N. Hutton
5. Psychosocial Issues for Children Born to HIV-Infected Women, L. Wissow
6. Access to and Utilization of Health Services by HIV-Infected Women, L. Solomon and S. Cohn
7. Drug Use, HIV Status and Reproduction, M.E. McCaul, M.L. Blanton and D.S. Svikis
Part II: Legal Issues
8. Legal Challenges: State Intervention, Reproduction, and HIV-Infected Women, T.L. Banks
9. Reproductive Choice and Reality: An Assessment of Tort Liability for Health-Care Providers and Women with HIV/AIDS, K. Rothenberg
10. Perinatal Drug Use: State Interventions and the Implications for HIV Infected Women, K. Acuff
Part III: Ethical and Social Issues
11. Clinical Counseling and the Problem of Autonomy-Negating Influence, M.G. Bloche
12. The Moral Right to Have Children, M. Powers
13. Reproductive Choices of Adolescent Females with HIV/AIDS, P. King
14. Moral Multiculturalism, Childbearing, and AIDS, A. Allen
Part IV: Voices from the Community
15. Practices and Opinions of Health Care Providers Serving HIV-Infected Women, N. Kass and R. Faden
16. In Women's Words: The Values and Life Experiences of HIV-Infected Women, N. Kass and R. Faden
Part V: Conclusion
17. HIV Infection and Childbearing : A Proposal for Policy and Clinical Practice, The Working Group