[Solved]: Case STudy Is Fetal Endangerment a Mother’s Right

Case STudy Is Fetal Endangerment a Mother’s Right? Jane is pregnant, 23 years old, unmarried, and the mother of four children by three different fathers. She has been an insulin-dependent diabetic since the age of 12 but had no complications from the disease during the earlier pregnancies. During clinic visits, Jane has been advised of the risks of uncontrolled diabetes for her unborn child (increased risk for congenital deformities, premature birth, and being stillborn) but does not seem to take the advice seriously. When questioned about how she is monitoring her blood sugar, she complains that she is too poor to buy the test strips, and even when she has the supplies, she often forgets. At 15 weeks’ gestation, following an office visit, she is admitted to the hospital as an inpatient to treat her diabetes. The next day, against her physician’s advice, she checks herself out of the hospital even though the diabetes has not been fully brought under control. Once at home, she again fails to monitor her blood sugar adequately. At 22 weeks’ gestation, Jane is again admitted to the hospital as her diabetes is again out of control. The next morning, she again announces that she wishes to check out. The physician and unit staff advise her that her actions are clearly not in the best interest of the fetus. Jane responds negatively to the advice and becomes belligerent, demanding to be released. In this case, who has rights? Whose rights should prevail? Jane’s? The fetus’s? The hospital staff’s? Should the physician attempt to get a court order to keep Jane hospitalized?