the State’s medical ethics council (Smer) is an important member of the community who ensure that ethical issues are being debated and have their place in the public debate. Questions on the obstetrics and gynecology contains many ethical dilemmas. However, in Smer sits to this day no midwives or gynecologists.
We meet and care for women who become pregnant desired or undesired, life-threatening illnesses, children with severe congenital anomalies or who died in the womb and older women who have memories from long ago completed experiences. In each meeting we learn more and gain better knowledge in order to be able to make the best on the basis of medical practice, with respect for the patient.
In our workplaces and associations is, therefore, a constant awareness and discussion of ethical dilemmas. We know that it is difficult.
We consider it noteworthy that SMER, without expertise in the subject, questions the purely medical measures and caregiving in the treatment of abortion after week 18+0.
with respect to the termination of pregnancy in the second trimester, we have, for example, on behalf of the national Board of health together with the Swedish neonatalföreningen developed a solid consensus document on the treatment of abortion after week 18+0. We are satisfied with the consensus document that is based on the Swedish law on abortion, as well as science and proven experience.
that will be prevailing for the medical treatment and care of women undergoing abortion after week 18+0.
Our professionsorganisationer the Swedish society for obstetrics and gynaecology and the Swedish barnmorskeförbundet are critical to a number of proposals in the Smers report. We believe it noteworthy that SMER, without expertise in the subject, questions the purely medical measures and caregiving in the treatment of abortion after week 18+0. The proposals threaten to provide less care and lower patient safety for women undergoing abortion. But they also have profound implications for the complex chain of care around pregnancy and childbirth that we, not the Direction, has responsibility for.
Let’s get to work, which we think is best based on our experience, advice and guidelines based on our ongoing discussion around ethics and the safest possible treatment.