ABSTRACT
In general, pregnant women are keen to know how to optimize the health of the fetus and those healthcare professionals in regular contact with the pregnant woman work hard to promote this. Women who are addicted to legal or illegal substances can still be reached through this medium, but these women have conflicting desires to feed their addiction and protect the fetus. Once pregnant, simply withdrawing from the drug in a 'cold turkey' fashion might be harmful to the fetus, as it too suffers withdrawal symptoms. Continuing drug use is also harmful and the fetus successfully carried to term will have to suffer withdrawal at birth. Expert help and treatment is required to aid the mother who wishes her withdrawal to cause the least possible distress to the fetus. One of the primary reasons for the proposal that the law should prevent the subjugation of women's rights during pregnancy is the value of autonomy.
