Enhancing decision-making by depressed pregnant patients

Aims: We provide the reader with clinical tools for enhancing decision-making by depressed pregnant patients. Results: Ethical principles and the concept of fetus as patient support four clinical strategies for enhancing the autonomy of these patients: screening for depression; assessing the effects of depression on decision-making capacity; counseling about the adverse consequences of depression for pregnancy; and informing patients about the options for treatment of depression. Conclusion: These four strategies can be used to prevent ethical conflict in decisions about the management of pregnancy in patients with depression.