Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/64412
Title: Supporting Maternal Autonomy in Medical Abortion Pathways
Contributor(s): Turner, Joseph V  (author)orcid ; Chaku, Jyoti D  (author)
Publication Date: 2024-12-13
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-64292-0_18
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/64412
Related DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-64292-0
Abstract: 

From the woman's perspective, the clinical safety of medical abortion using a recommended regimen is well-established. There is, however, considerable debate about options for women who change their mind wishing to discontinue a medical abortion and continue their pregnancy instead. Mifepristone antagonization with progesterone, known colloquially as "abortion reversal", has been proposed by some and opposed by others in political, clinical, and scientific arenas. Current literature and clinical guidelines recommend against providing active measures for women who change their mind after commencing medical abortion, citing pharmacological implausibility of the progesterone-after-mifepristone approach, and lack of quality evidence from well-designed clinical trials in this area. For women in such a situation who choose to then try and keep their pregnancy, adherence to the four pillars of medicine, namely autonomy, justice, beneficence and non-maleficence, favours treatment of these women with progesterone. This chapter critically analyses key areas relevant to the intervention of mifepristone antagonism by progesterone, including demand, pharmacological basis, clinical evidence, safety for the woman, patient autonomy, and clinician duty of care. Other important issues requiring consideration include: evidence for untreated pregnancy continuation rates after mifepristone, success rates relating to gestational age, and the actual number of women discontinuing medication abortion and seeking to keep their pregnancy.

Publication Type: Book Chapter
Source of Publication: Integrated Science for Sustainable Development Goal 3, v.24, p. 461-479
Publisher: Springer
Place of Publication: Cham, Switzerland
ISBN: 9783031642913
9783031810510
9783031642920
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 321503 Reproduction
500104 Human rights and justice issues (excl. law)
321502 Obstetrics and gynaecology
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 200509 Women's and maternal health
200105 Treatment of human diseases and conditions
200204 Health inequalities
HERDC Category Description: B1 Chapter in a Scholarly Book
Publisher/associated links: https://www.springer.com/series/16554
Series Name: Integrated Science
Series Number : 24
Editor: Editor(s): Rezaei, N.
Appears in Collections:Book Chapter
School of Rural Medicine

Files in This Item:
1 files
File SizeFormat 
Show full item record
Google Media

Google ScholarTM

Check

Altmetric


Items in Research UNE are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.