Adolescent vicissitudes and medical judgement: a case study
Gallagher, E.B.; Farrall, M.G.
Adolescence 22(87): 671-680
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-8449 PMID: 3434390 Document Number: 291244
Professional concern about the widespread occurrence of adolescent pregnancy is based upon its negative impact on the social, developmental, and economic prospects of the mother and her infant. The usual presumption is that the pregnant adolescent is in good health but suffers from socioeconomic and cultural disadvantages, which the pregnancy will exacerbate. The problems of the pregnant adolescent are more complex when she also has a severe medical handicap. We draw upon such a case to illuminate the issues which arise when medical problems interact with the vicissitudes of adolescence. Although it is clear that the patient's own behavior contributed substantially to the tragic outcome of this case, we believe that greater professional anticipation of the contingencies of adolescent development might have produced a more favorable result.