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Inside the Ethics Committee

Factual: Health & Wellbeing

Religion & Ethics

Joan Bakewell and a panel of experts wrestle with the ethics of a real-life medical case.

Joan Bakewell is joined by a panel of experts to wrestle with the ethics arising from a real-life medical case.

Inside the Ethics Committee: Series 9

Inside the Ethics Committee: Series 9: Episode 1: Assisted Conception and Disability

Episode 1

Episode 1: Assisted Conception and Disability

Series 9

Assisted Conception and Disability

BBC Radio 4 - Inside the Ethics Committee, Series 9, Assisted Conception and Disability

Should a woman with severe disabilities be helped to get pregnant?

Rosemary has battled severe health problems for many years. Now 36, and in a new relationship, she wants assisted conception. But it's extremely risky. Should the doctors help her?

Rosemary has battled with severe health problems for many years. She has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and, following complications of spinal surgery, she is now a full time wheelchair user and her breathing is impaired. She receives her nutrition via a tube fed directly into her blood stream and she empties her bowels into a bag attached to the small intestine.

She has always wanted a child and now, aged 36 and in the early stages of a relationship, she asks for assisted conception.

The fertility doctor refers Rosemary on to various specialists at the hospital, who enumerate the risks. If Rosemary is to have IVF, she'll need a general anaesthetic which would be extremely risky for her. Furthermore, any pregnancy could be life threatening to Rosemary and a potential fetus, and the team are concerned about the welfare of a future child. Also, if Rosemary becomes pregnant, her child could inherit Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome as the condition is genetic.

While hospitals look after women with complex problems who are already pregnant, enabling a woman like Rosemary to become pregnant is an ethical challenge of a different order. But Rosemary herself is adamant she wants to take the risk, whatever the potential consequences.

Should the fertility team help Rosemary get pregnant? 

Joan Bakewell and a panel of guests discuss this ethical issue.

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A panel of experts tackle the ethics involved in a real hospital case

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Inside the Ethics Committee

Series 9

Episode 1: Assisted Conception and Disability

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