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Why it is unethical to charge migrant women for pregnancy care in the NHS

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 17:13 authored by Arianne ShahvisiArianne Shahvisi, Fionnuala Finnerty
Pregnancy care is chargeable for migrants who do not have indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom. Women who are not “ordinarily resident,” including prospective asylum applicants, some refused asylum-seekers, unidentified victims of trafficking, and undocumented people are required to pay substantial charges in order to access antenatal, intra-partum, and postnatal services as well as abortion care within the NHS. In this paper we consider the ethical issues generated by the exclusion of pregnancy care from the raft of services which are free to all. We argue that charging for pregnancy care amounts to sexdiscrimination, since without pregnancy care, sex may pose a barrier to good health. We also argue that charging for pregnancy care violates bodily autonomy, entrenches the sex-asymmetry of sexual responsibility, centres the male body, and produces health risks for women and neonates. We explore some of the ideological motivations for making maternity care chargeable, and suggest that its exclusion responds to rising xenophobia. We recommend that pregnancy care always be free regardless of citizenship or residence status, and briefly explore how these arguments bear on the broader moral case against chargeable healthcare for migrants.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Journal of Medical Ethics

ISSN

0306-6800

Publisher

BMJ Publishing Group

Department affiliated with

  • BSMS Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2019-03-12

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2019-05-02

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2019-03-11

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