Ethical consequences of prenatal and perinatal psychology

Jiří Jankovský
University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, Department of Psychology and Special Pedagogy, Czech Republic

Korespondenční autor: Jiří Jankovský (jirijankovsky@centrum.cz)

ISSN 1804-7181 (On-line)

Full verze:

Submitted:23. 6. 2014
Accepted: 1. 10. 2014
Published online: 31. 12. 2014

Summary

This contribution deals with the ethical issues directly related to prenatal and perinatal psychology that views human life as encounters, continuity and dialogue. The success of the life of a newborn baby is already predetermined in the prenatal period, which depends primarily on the psychological state (mood) of the mother. Confucius was aware of this fact as early as the 6th century BC. Moreover, Aristotle dealt with the issue regarding the beginning of life (4th century BC.) followed by St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century. What is surprising is the extent to which their views correspond to our current knowledge. Of course, it depends on our point of view, whether we approach solving these issues in terms of philosophy, law, medicine, psychology or theology. The author also deals with some of the modern issues associated with the current crisis of the family, as is the trend of more “singles”, falling marriage rates, the promiscuous behaviour of couples out of wedlock, denial of paternity, low birth rate, induced abortions, irresponsibility and lack of appropriate identification patterns in the family, and so forth. It draws attention to some of the possibilities and capacities of reproductive medicine, such as cryopreservation of sperm, oocytes and embryos, spare gestation, issues related to genetic engineering and consulting, gender selection and the like.

Keywords: prenatal and perinatal psychology; prenatal communication between mother and child and between partners; current crisis of the family; competence of reproductive medicine

Literatura

1. Akvinský T (1992). Summa proti pohanům (Summa contra Gentiles) [Summa against Pagans], kniha I.–IV., Olomouc: Matice cyrilometodějská (Czech).

2. Bible: Písmo svaté Starého a Nového zákona: (včetně euterokanonických knih) [Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament (including the deuterocanonical books)]. Český ekumenický překlad. 11th ed. Praha: Česká biblická společnost, 2005c1985, 1007, 283 p. (Czech).

3. Fedor-Freybergh PG (2013). Prenatálne dieťa. Psychosomatické charakteristiky prenatálneho a perinatálneho obdobia ako prostredia dieťaťa [Prenatal child. Psychosomatic characteristics of prenatal and perinatal period as the environment of a child]. Trenčín: Vydavateľstvo F, 65 p. (Slovak).

4. Frankl VE (2006). Lékařská péče o duši: základy logoterapie a existenciální analýzy [Medical care of the soul: the basics of logotherapy and existential analysis]. 1st ed., Brno: Cesta, 237 p. (Czech).

5. Halík T (2005). Noc zpovědníka. Paradoxy malé víry v postoptimistické době [Night of a confessor. Paradoxes of little faith in postoptimistic time]. 1st ed., Praha: Nakladatelství LN, 256 p. (Czech).

6. Huntington SP (2001). Střet civilizací. Boj kultur a proměna světového řádu [Clash of Civilizations. Fight of cultures and transformation of the world order]. 1st ed., Rybka Publisher, 448 p. (Czech).

7. Kuře J et al. (2010). Kapitoly z lékařské etiky [Chapters of Medical Ethics]. Brno: LF MU, 137 p. (Czech).

8. Listina základních práv a svobod, Ústavní zákon č. 2/1993 Sb., ve znění ústavního zákona č. 162/1998 Sb. [Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Constitutional Act. no.2/1993 Coll., as amended by Constitutional Law no. 162/1998 Coll] (Czech).

9. Matějček Z, Langmeier J (1986). Počátky našeho duševního života [The beginnings of our intellectual life]. Praha: Panorama, 365 p. (Czech).

10. Singer P (2011). Praktical Ethics. 3rd ed., Cambridge University Press, 323 p.

11. Störig HJ (2007). Malé dějiny filozofie [Small history of philosophy]. Karmelitánské nakladatelství, 456 p. (Czech).

12. Verny T, Kelly J (1981). The Secret Life of the Unborn Child. Toronto, Colins.

13. Vyhláška č. 75/1986 Sb., kterou se provádí zákon české národní rady č. 66/1986 Sb., o umělém přerušení těhotenství [Decree no. 75/1986 Coll., implementing the Act of the Czech National Council no. 66/1986 Coll., on abortion] (Czech).

14. Zákon ČNR č. 66/1986 Sb., o umělém přerušení těhotenství [Act no. 66/1986 Coll., on abortion] (Czech).

15. Zákon č. 84/2012 Sb., kterým se mění zákon č. 94/1963 Sb., o rodině, ve znění pozdějších předpisů [Act. no. 84/2012 Coll., Amending Act. no. 94/1963 Coll., on family, as amended] (Czech).