Pandemic Policies and Practices: A Conversation about Ethical Challenges for Evidence-Based Obstetrics during COVID-19

July 21, 2020 -
11:00am to 12:00pm

During this session, Marielle Gross, MD, MA, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh examines ethical concerns related the practice of evidence-based obstetric care in the pandemic setting. Specifically, she explores ethical challenges related to a dearth of evidence and emerging but limited understanding of COVID-19 diagnosis or management during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It will also consider ethical dimensions of pandemic-related changes to ambulatory healthcare delivery for prenatal and postpartum populations, such as implementation of telemedicine and decreases in ultrasound and doppler fetal surveillance.

Further, it will consider the distinct burdens of applying hospital infection prevention and control to inpatient obstetric settings, including COVID screening/testing, visitor restrictions, PPE requirements and potential separation of mothers and infants. Running through all cases will be examination of the troubling propensity for the pandemic practice and policy responses to favor moral panic over judicious risk/benefit assessments and to exacerbate underlying disparities in maternal and neonatal outcomes.

View online here.

Co-sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Public Health Training Center and the Center for Bioethics & Health Law

Location and Address

Online