Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29500216›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2018

Negotiating acceptable termination of pregnancy for non-lethal fetal anomaly: a qualitative study of professional perspectives.

Lisa Crowe, Ruth H Graham, Stephen C Robson, Judith Rankin

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Lisa CroweInstitute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Ruth H GrahamSociology and Politics, School of Geography, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Stephen C RobsonInstitute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Judith RankinInstitute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

Funding

Medical Research Council G0800128-3/1Medical Research Council MR/K02325X/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study aims to explore the perspectives of professionals around the issue of termination of pregnancy for non-lethal fetal anomaly (TOPFA).

methodsSemi-structured interviews were undertaken with medical professionals (14 consultants in fetal medicine, obstetrics, neonatology and paediatrics) and social care professionals (nine individuals with roles supporting people living with impairment) from the Northeast of England. Analysis adopted an inductive thematic approach facilitated by NVivo.

resultsThe overarching theme to emerge from the interview data was of professionals, medical and social care, wanting to present an acceptable self-image of their views on TOPFA. Professionals' values on 'fixing', pain and 'normality' influenced what aspects of moral acceptability they gave priority to in terms of their standpoint and, in turn, their conceptualisations of acceptable TOPFA. Thus, if a termination could be defended morally, including negotiation of several key issues (including 'fixing', perceptions of pain and normality), then participants conceptualised TOPFA as an acceptable pregnancy outcome.

conclusionDespite different professional experiences, these professional groups were able to negotiate their way through difficult terrain to conceptualise TOPFA as a morally acceptable principle. While professionals have different moral thresholds, no one argued for a restriction of the current legislation. The data suggest that social care professionals also look at the wider social context of a person with an impairment when discussing their views regarding TOPFA. Medical professionals focus more on the individual impairment when discussing their views on TOPFA.

Indexed as

NegotiatingAbortion, InducedEnglandFemaleFetusHumansInterviews as TopicMedical StaffPerceptionPregnancyPregnancy OutcomeQualitative ResearchSocial Workersfetal anomalyprofessionalsqualitativeTermination of pregnancyUK

Identifiers

PMID29500216
PMCPMC5855171

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.