Refusing to terminate a life-threatening pregnancy.

A 17-year-old single, Hispanic woman with congenital class III heart disease was found to be 15 weeks pregnant at a clinic visit where she presented in mild failure. She discussed her wish to continue with the pregnancy, knowing it might very well kill her, and plans for her infertile sister to raise the child should she die. The patient's initial refusal and subsequent agreement with the doctor's and family's wish that she terminate the pregnancy is reviewed in the context of adolescent pregnancy and the personal meaning to the patient of the pregnancy and the consultant's intervention. The case was discussed at a consultation-liaison case conference.