All women deserve the right to be treated by doctors safely and with caution, especially when a woman is pregnant. There are multitudinous ethical reasons for pregnant women not participating in scientific research dealing with medications and treatments; however, the benefits outweigh the costs. Pregnant women should not be excluded from research because lacking the knowledge of how to treat illness during pregnancy and the eventual effect it could have on a woman and her child is not justifiable. It is also not justifiable to put the woman through mental, emotional, or physical harm in order to protect the child, if at all possible. Women in scientific research—pregnant or not—are vital to the advancement of biomedical research and for
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By causing uncertainty, many illnesses go untreated or undertreated by physicians and soon-to-be-mothers alike (Lyerly, Little, & Faden, 2009). However, this reason is the perfect opportunity to include pregnant women in research because it can lead to further significant harm to both subjects. For example, mental illnesses, such as depression, have a significant impact with relapsing if medication is stopped. Women who discontinued the use of medication had a relapse in major depression at 68% compared to those who continued the medication throughout pregnancy at 25% (Cohen et al. 2006). Furthermore, effects on the fetus can include “premature birth, low birth weight, fetal growth restriction, and postnatal complications” (Lyerly, Little, & Faden, 2009, p. 5). If at all possible, medication should be tested in order to prevent relapses in major depression and possible issues with the fetus in the coming future. There should not be as many concerns about taking medications without first weighing the risk of not taking the
By causing uncertainty, many illnesses go untreated or undertreated by physicians and soon-to-be-mothers alike (Lyerly, Little, & Faden, 2009). However, this reason is the perfect opportunity to include pregnant women in research because it can lead to further significant harm to both subjects. For example, mental illnesses, such as depression, have a significant impact with relapsing if medication is stopped. Women who discontinued the use of medication had a relapse in major depression at 68% compared to those who continued the medication throughout pregnancy at 25% (Cohen et al. 2006). Furthermore, effects on the fetus can include “premature birth, low birth weight, fetal growth restriction, and postnatal complications” (Lyerly, Little, & Faden, 2009, p. 5). If at all possible, medication should be tested in order to prevent relapses in major depression and possible issues with the fetus in the coming future. There should not be as many concerns about taking medications without first weighing the risk of not taking the