Journal article
Continuing a pregnancy after diagnosis of a lethal fetal abnormality: Views and perspectives of Australian health professionals and parents
A Weeks, S Saya, J Hodgson
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology | WILEY | Published : 2020
DOI: 10.1111/ajo.13157
Abstract
Background: Couples who receive a prenatal diagnosis of a fetal anomaly in Victoria, Australia, are generally offered a choice about whether or not to continue with the pregnancy. When a severe or ‘lethal’ abnormality is diagnosed, some couples decide to continue the pregnancy in the knowledge that their baby may die before or shortly after birth. Several Australian parents who published personal accounts of that experience describe a lack of clear clinical pathways, suggesting those who decide to continue a pregnancy following a diagnosis of a ‘lethal fetal abnormality’ (LFA) may not be receiving optimal care. Aims: This study aimed to provide empirical Australian evidence of views and expe..
View full abstractGrants
Funding Acknowledgements
The authors wish to acknowledge Ms Shauna Buscombe for her assistance with the projects. The authors also wish to acknowledge with gratitude the participants, and to thank organisations which assisted in recruitment. Assistance with recruitment was provided by SIDS and Kids, SANDS, Very Special Kids, The Teddy Love Club, and Trisomy Oz. We would also like to thank reviewers for their helpful comments. This research was carried out in partial fulfilment of Alice Weeks' and Sibel Saya's Master of Genetic Counselling, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne and was supported by the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support Program.