SMFM Podcast: Fetal Therapy and Perinatal Palliative Care Misinformation

In this episode of the SMFM podcast series, Dr. Amy Valent is joined by Dr. Abigail Wilpers and Dr. Ashish Premkumar to explore the critical issue of public misinformation surrounding fetal therapy and perinatal palliative care. They address the emotional challenges faced by pregnant individuals with fetal diagnoses, the benefits and limitations of fetal therapy, and the true nature of perinatal palliative care. The discussion includes ethical implications of misinformation, barriers to accessing care, and the impact of recent legislative trends. Join us as we dispel myths and advocate for informed, compassionate patient care in maternal-fetal medicine.

Additional Resources:

• Kolder article: Court-Ordered Obstetrical Interventions | New England Journal of Medicine (nejm.org)
• Early pregnancy loss post-AL court decision re: embryonic death: Early Pregnancy Loss in an Era of “Wrongful Embryonic Death” | Reproductive Health | JAMA | JAMA Network
• Texas Policy Project (Kari White's group): Publications | Texas Policy Evaluation Project | Liberal Arts | UT - Austin (utexas.edu)
• ANSIRH, Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health
• Dr. Katrina Kimport's work on later abortion: Is third-trimester abortion exceptional? Two pathways to abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy in the United States - PubMed (nih.gov)
• The Turnaway Study
• Dr. Ashish Premkumar study focused on parental decision-making in the setting of fetal anomalies amenable to maternal-fetal surgery: Society of Family Planning: Decision making in the setting of congenital anomalies (NATAL) study (societyfp.org)
• From Congress to the Vatican: The Promotion of Maternal-Fetal Surgery & Perinatal Palliative Care as Alternatives to Abortion Care (talk by Dr. Abigail Wilpers)
• Maternal-fetal surgery is not an alternative to abortion care by Dr. Abigail Wilpers and Kristen Gosnell
• Exceptions to abortion restrictions often fail people like Kate Cox whose babies are sure to die by Dr. Abigail Wilpers
• The legal article mentioned by Dr. Abigail Wilpers outlining the PPC notification laws and how some “triggers” for the laws make no sense (because the laws are really meant to obstruct abortion care).
• Fetal Health Foundation (parent-run non-profit)
• Society for Family Planning

• ACOG Clinical Guidance: Perinatal Palliative Care (SMFM Endorsed) 
• Care levels for fetal therapy centers 
• SFP Statement on Abortion Nomenclature (SMFM Endorsed)  
• SMFM Policy Tracker 
• SMFM Consult Series #59: The use of Analgesia and Anesthesia for maternal-fetal procedures
• NAFTNet  
• Study on Maternal Autonomy
• Nebraska Law Text