ABSTRACT:
Fertility treatments have contributed significantly to the increase in multifetal pregnancies. The
first approach to the problem of multifetal pregnancies should be prevention, and strategies to limit multifetal
pregnancies, especially high-order multifetal pregnancies, should be practiced by all physicians who treat women
for infertility. Incorporating the ethical frameworks presented in this Committee Opinion will help physicians coun
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sel and guide patients when making decisions regarding multifetal pregnancy reduction. In cases of high-order
multifetal pregnancies, counseling should include the availability of multifetal pregnancy reduction. Fellows should
be knowledgeable about the medical risks of multifetal pregnancy, the possible medical benefits of multifetal preg
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nancy reduction, and the complex ethical issues inherent in decisions regarding the use of multifetal pregnancy
reduction. Physicians should not be required to act in ways that conflict with their value systems but should be
prepared to react in a professional and ethical manner to patient requests for both information and intervention