Clinical Research Involving Pregnant Women: Missed Trials (Research Ethics Forum #3)
Pregnancy and childbirth, Medicine
Summary
This book discusses how to respectfully and responsibly include pregnant women in clinical research In sharp contrast the existing literature predominantly focuses on the reasons why the inclusion of pregnant women… in clinical research is necessary - viz to develop effective treatments for women during pregnancy to promote fetal safety to reduce harm to women and fetuses from suboptimal care and to allow access to the benefits of research participation This book supports the shift to a new default position whereby pregnant women are included in clinical research unless researchers argue convincingly for their exclusion This shift raises many as yet unexplored ethical and policy questions about existing barriers to the equitable inclusion of pregnant women in research This book is original in three key ways First it presents an unparalleled depth of analysis of the ethics of research with pregnant women bringing together many of the key authors in this field as well as experts in research ethics and in vulnerability who have not previously applied their work to pregnant women Second it includes innovative theoretical work in ethics and disease specific case studies that highlight the current complexity and future challenges of research involving pregnant women Third the book brings together authors who argue both for and against including more pregnant women in formal clinical trials