Selective termination to a singleton pregnancy is ethically justified.

Abstract

Consensus presently opposes selective termination of a multifetal pregnancy to a singleton. We reject this consensus because the arguments made in defense of it are deficient. We show that these arguments rely on the indefensible assumption that the previable fetus possesses independent moral status. We conclude that, since selective termination of a multifetal pregnancy of any order to a singleton is ethically justifiable, a pregnant woman's request for selective termination to a singleton from twins or a higher-order multiple gestation should be respected and implemented. Physicians who object to selective termination to a singleton in private conscience should not feel compelled to perform the procedure but are obligated to make an appropriate referral.