Luc Ginot, Director of the Public Health Department at ARS Île-de-France, opened the day by welcoming the actions carried out by health networks in perinatal care, and the exemplary nature of collaborative, interdisciplinary and transversal work in perinatal care… Aware of the difficulties which persist and even increase, he recalled the Agency’s commitment to supporting partners and remaining mobilized on issues relating to access to voluntary termination of pregnancy, equality between women and men and ensuring the rights of the most deprived (state medical aid, accommodation, etc.).
Fabrice Gzil, associate professor of philosophy and ethics at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Paris Saclay and co-director of the Espace Éthique Île-de-France, played the role of guiding light during this event. Thanks to his expert interventions, he encouraged in-depth reflection for each round table. From the opening, it highlighted the key points to consider in the field of ethics: the normative framework, the importance of constant questioning of practices, the commitment to the values carried in the field of perinatality , as well as the need for explicit consent.
The interventions and discussions took place around the 4 main principles of ethics and through themes relating to:
- The therapeutic relationship : with examples on breastfeeding, the choice of method for a voluntary termination of pregnancy, the patient experience of childbirth.
- Inequalities and precariousness : with the notion of differentiated care, the promotion of social work in supporting the care of women then with the presentation of an innovative system “the personalized support unit” which adapts to constraints and needs vulnerable women.
- Particular situations of heightened vulnerabilities : particularly in the context of the resuscitation of extremely premature babies and then in the work of child protection, both from a medical and legal point of view, in a context of intra-family violence.
- Screening and prevention : around postpartum depression, screenings for Down syndrome and deafness with the point of view and testimonies of parents.
This day dedicated to ethics and perinatality sparked collective reflection on subjects that are constantly being questioned, in connection with our ethical, legal and moral benchmarks.
What emerges is the promotion of “care” work, “taking care”, and “non-technical” skills by emphasizing the training of health professionals in communication in order to promote informed and shared decisions. Attention was also paid to the necessary recognition of social work, an essential role in caring for the most vulnerable women.
At the heart of this day, we retained the importance of reassessing the caregiver-patient relationship: support, exchange and discussion, to be carried out with “ gentleness, tact and delicacy ”, without trying to convince while ensuring good understanding on the part of the person concerned.
It is essential to allow women and parents to express their right to say “no”. This refusal must be able to be accepted without judgment, without calling into question the quality of the information provided, nor the work of the professionals.
This enriching day invites us to continue reflection and to constantly question professional practices in order to always better support women, parents, children and families.
**How does the emphasis on “differentiated care” outlined in the conference address the ethical concerns of accessing equitable perinatal resources for diverse populations?**
## Interview: Ethics in Perinatality
**Introduction**
Welcome to World Today News, where we delve into the critical issues impacting our lives. Today we are joined by two distinguished guests to discuss the recent conference on “Ethics and Perinatality,” a critical examination of ethical challenges within the field of perinatal care.
Our guests are:
* **Luc Ginot:** Director of the Public Health Department at ARS Île-de-France, a leading voice in public health policy and practice.
* **Fabrice Gzil:** Associate Professor of Philosophy and Ethics at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Paris Saclay and co-director of the Espace Éthique Île-de-France, a renowned expert in medical ethics.
**Thank you both for joining us today.**
Let’s begin by exploring some of the key takeaways from the conference.
**Theme 1: Foundations of Ethical Perinatal Care**
* **Mr. Ginot,** you highlighted the critical role of collaborative Networks and interdisciplinary teamwork in perinatal care at the conference. Could you elaborate on why this collaboration is so crucial, particularly when navigating complex ethical dilemmas?
* **Prof. Gzil,** you emphasized the importance of constant questioning of practices and adhering to ethical principles. What are some of the ethical challenges unique to perinatal care, and how can ongoing reflection help address them?
**Theme 2: Equity and Access**
This conference underscored concerns regarding inequalities and precariousness in perinatal care.
* **Mr. Ginot,** you mentioned the Agency’s commitment to supporting access to voluntary termination of pregnancy and ensuring the rights of vulnerable populations. What specific initiatives are being implemented to bridge these gaps in access?
* **Prof. Gzil,** the conference addressed the concept of “differentiated care.” Could you explain what this entails and why it’s essential in providing equitable perinatal care?
**Theme 3: Protecting Vulnerable Populations**
The conference highlighted the ethical complexities surrounding care for vulnerable newborns and families facing challenging situations.
* **Prof. Gzil,** how can we ethically balance the rights of parents with the best interests of the child in situations like the resuscitation of extremely premature babies or cases of suspected intra-family violence?
* **Mr. Ginot,** the conference featured discussions on the ”personalized support unit” designed to address the needs of vulnerable women. What are the key components of this system, and how does it contribute to a more ethical and effective care approach?
**Theme 4: Empowering Informed Decision-making**
* **Prof. Gzil,** you stressed the importance of informed consent and shared decision-making. How can healthcare professionals ensure that women and parents are genuinely empowered to make choices about their care, even in emotionally charged situations like prenatal screenings or decisions about delivery methods?
* **Mr. Ginot,** what role can communication skills training play in fostering trust and open dialogue between healthcare providers and patients, ultimately contributing to more ethical and patient-centered care?
**Theme 5: Looking Ahead**
* **Mr. Ginot ,** what are the key takeaways from this conference that will shape the future of perinatal care in your region?
* **Prof. Gzil,** what are some of the emerging ethical challenges in perinatal care that we should be preparing for in the years to come?
**Closing**
Thank you both for this insightful discussion. I believe this conversation has shed light on the complexity and importance of ethical considerations in perinatal care. We encourage our viewers to continue engaging with these crucial issues and advocating for a future where all mothers, babies, and families receive the compassionate and ethical care they deserve.
