Start with standard forensic approach for forced treatment |
Know the law in your jurisdiction (Rennie or Rogers model)37,38 |
Diagnosis |
Rationale for need for treatment |
Reason capacity is lacking |
Determining less restrictive alternatives |
Knowledge of literature on fetal and pregnancy complications |
Clearly identify harms of no treatment in report; others may focus only on medication harms or may be ignorant of the risks of not treating |
Communication with other medical staff (e.g. obstetrics and pediatrics), since risk is outside usual area of forensic expertise |
Clearly understand trimesters (for example, the point at which the fetus becomes viable, the medications that may pose a risk during different trimesters/weeks, and the length of time bed-rest needed) |