Decision making and informed consent in uterus transplant recipients: A mixed-methods study of the Dallas uterus transplant study (DUETS) participants
Anji E. Wall, Liza Johannesson, Monica Sok, Ann Marie Warren, Elisa J. Gordon, Giuliano Testaa
The American Journal of Surgery, 4 February 2021
Abstract
Background
Uterus transplantation (Utx) has achieved clinical success but little is known about motivations and experiences of UTx recipients.
Methods
We conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 UTx recipients in addition to collecting quantitative demographic and clinical data. Closed-ended interview questions were treated as categorical variables. Thematic analysis was performed on qualitative data. Bivariate analysis tested associations between categorical variables.
Results
Themes that emerged included: the decision to pursue UTx is a process, primary motivations for UTx are specific to the experience of gestation, and alternative options did not offer the same value as UTx. There was no association between disease etiology, clinical status, or perception of UTx risk with information needs or donor preference.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that UTx is a unique treatment option that some women with AUFI find preferable to adoption and surrogacy and, as such, should be discussed as a parenthood option with women diagnosed with AUFI.

Understanding Mordel: obtaining informed consent for trisomy screening
Emyr Owain Wile, Alys Einion-Waller
British Journal of Midwifery, 2 February 2021; 29(2)
Abstract
The landmark decision of Montgomery has established that the patient’s right to self-determination and autonomy underpins the doctrine of informed consent. The case of Mordel threw into question the process of obtaining informed consent and whether it was being sufficiently secured in the context of Down’s syndrome screening. This case conveyed a paradigm shift to the role of the midwife and sonographers when obtaining consent for screening and the requisite legal standard of care they owe to expectant parents. However, many key issues remain unanswered from the decision in Mordel, in particular, what steps must healthcare professionals take to discharge their duty of care in the process of securing informed consent from expectant parents for screening.