Ethical issues for nurses providing perinatal care in community settings

Ethical issues in perinatal nursing are complex in that two patients-mother and fetus-are considered. This work considers six areas of potential ethic al conflict: conflict between the mother and fetus, informed consent, confi dentiality, cultural conflicts, conflicts associated with managed care, and conflicts in childbirth education. Ethical principles of autonomy, benefic ence, and justice are included. Strategies for resolving ethical conflicts in community practice settings are suggested.