Ethical Dilemmas in Fertility Counseling (PDF)

Ethical Dilemmas in Fertility Counseling addresses the many quandaries encountered by mental health professionals who practice in the field of reproductive medicine. This book sets the standard for psychologists who work with donors and recipients of gametes and embryos, gestational surrogates, intended parents, and children conceived through assisted reproduction. Through a series of thoughtfully analyzed case vignettes, readers will learn a template that can help them navigate with their clients issues such as access to assisted reproductive technology; what to do with unused embryos; whether to risk initiating or reducing a multifetal pregnancy; whether to disclose information about the use of collaborative reproductive technologies; and balancing law compliance, practice guidelines, and ethical principles within the context of values held by the patient's culture, religion, society, and family. As background to their step-by-step strategy for resolving ethical dilemmas in fertility counseling, the authors provide reviews of medical, psychological, sociological, and bioethical literature in relation to assisted reproductive technologies, as well as a comparison of international and religious approaches. This book will help psychologists already working in the field as well as those wishing to develop a niche practice in the area of reproductive medicine and health to base their practices on empirical evidence and to consistently work in an ethical manner.