Some current obstetric and gynaecological problems

It has never been right to practise obstetrics and gynaecology in a purely mechanistic style. Medical practitioners have always discussed and argued, often driven by their patients, both the ethical framework and the individual circumstantial detail of practice within this specialty. This chapter starts by discussing the place of ethics and minimum core values for practice. Their integration into every doctor–patient relationship must be taught from the earliest training. It is not possible to catalogue every circumstance within the specialty where there are ethical problems to be addressed. Principles are outlined and many examples within the context of routine general specialty practice including aspects of pregnancy and fertility control are considered