BALANCING COST, HEALTHCARE QUALITY, AND ADVANCED MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY IN PREGNANCY, LABOR AND DELIVERY

The field of bioethics gained both social and political recognition in the 1970s as a result of increasing medical technologies throughout the 1960s. The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology was founded in 1927. This led to the first appreciation of obstetrics and gynecology as a specialty within the United States healthcare system. Technological advances in medicine have contributed to soaring costs within the field of obstetrics and prenatal care. These rising costs of American births have led to patient concerns over costs of pregnancy, including prenatal care, labor and delivery. As a society, we have to determine what can be done to contain these costs, but still be able to provide optimal care for the mother and unborn child throughout the entire course of pregnancy. Even though technology has helped to increase successful deliveries and maternal and fetal outcomes, it does give rise to several ethical issues involving policies and priorities within reproductive health. Not all medical technology has led to positive outcomes, as it is not always used appropriately, and can be associated with increased cost and decreased availability.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Tavares, Lauren Elizabeth

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/57267

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/57267