Reversing physician hesitancy to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant patients.

ABSTRACT: Physician hesitancy is said to occur when physicians do not recommend COVID-19 vaccination, and it is a contributing factor for the low vaccination rate for COVID-19 in pregnant women. Physician hesitancy has become a major, unaddressed problem with regard to the quality and safety of obstetrical care. We identify 3 root causes of physician hesitancy and describe how professional ethics in obstetrics should guide in reversing these root causes. They are clinical misapplications of key components of professionally responsible obstetrical practice: therapeutic nihilism, shared decision-making, and respect for patient autonomy. Therapeutic nihilism directs the obstetrician to avoid any clinical interventions during pregnancy to prevent teratogenic effects that might be unknown. Therapeutic ni

SUBMITTER: Chervenak FA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8572733 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature