Smoking cessation programme: an ethical analysis.

Many midwives feel it is their moral duty to advise and help pregnant smokers to stop smoking Do midwives have the right to persuade or coerce pregnant smokers to stop smoking? Giving information is not sufficient to help clients to make informed choice Smokers need help to acquire necessary skills to raise self-esteem and assertiveness to make informed decisions Many women use smoking as a coping strategy to ensure their own mental well-being and that of their families The majority of women smokers are among the lower socio-economic groups It is essential for midwives to develop strategies that are sensitive and pertinent to the smokers' psychological and socio-economic needs Is it ethical or practical to enforce a total non-smoking policy in a maternity unit? As individuals, pregnant smokers have a 'right' to smoke Pregnant smokers smoke more on admission to hospital Illicit smoking will subject non-smokers to passive smoking and increase incidence of fire hazards It is essential to provide a well ventilated smoking-room, thereby respecting the rights of both smokers and non-smokers.