Exploring The Ethical Dilemmas in the Care of Pregnant Women in Ghana: A Case of “Maternal-Foetal Conflicts in the Shai-Osudoku District Hospital.

Abstract

Introduction: The interplay of the mother and foetus raises moral and ethical issues for doctors, as well as those who decide whether to give birth in utero. Doctors have come to view the foetus as a separate patient in and of itself, rather than just part of the maternal body. Legal and ethical considerations involving women's rights and the rights of the foetus have become more complicated with advances in medicine and technology. Some doctors have sought and won court orders to execute foetal therapies (mainly cesarean sections) without maternal permission. Aim: To explore the ethical dilemmas in the care of pregnant women in the Shai- Osudoku District Hospital of Ghana. Methodology: The study employed the use IDIs and FGDs as part of an exploratory qualitative study design. Focus group discussions examined the moral, legal, and social conundrums and decision-making processes in maternal-foetal conflict situations in Ghana's Shai-Osudoku District Hospital. Results: The study found that the mother's decision to accept a particular treatment during maternal-foetal conflict is significantly influenced by her educational level, religious beliefs, and cultural values. There are no formal ethical guidelines or rules that health providers work with while addressing maternal-foetal conflict. In this circumstance, maternal autonomy is valued only when it is consistent with the medical prognosis. Conclusion: The study revealed that a mother's level of education and religious convictions significantly influenced her readiness to accept particular therapies for maternal-foetal conflicts at the Shia-Osudoku District Hospital, which does not rely on structured ethical guidelines but rather treatment guidelines that are more medically oriented. The consent process is not structured to reflect the case for which it is been administered. The hospital recognizes and respects maternal autonomy only when her decision is in line with the medical prognosis, and does not take into account family, religious beliefs, and community customs when making decisions about maternal-foetal conflict situations.