Ethical and legal issues associated with substance abuse by pregnant and parenting women

The many pressing medical, psychological, legal, and ethical problems associated with substance abuse by pregnant and parenting women present daunting challenges. One approach is to adopt a legal perspective where die rights of mothers, fetuses, and children are pitted against one another in courtrooms and state legislatures. Another approach is to embrace a public health perspective, characterized by treating pregnant and postpartum substance abusers, protecting at-risk fetuses and children, and strengthening broken families. Both ethical concepts and legal tenets must be considered to develop new paradigms designed to help at-risk mothers and children and to protect the rights claimed by all involved.