59: A pediatric doctor on the life-or-death decisions some prospective parents must make

First Opinion Podcast

Christopher Hartnick never expected his work as a doctor to intersect with political discussions about abortion and the right of pregnant people to make choices about their own bodies. Yet as a pediatric ear, nose, and throat physician who specializes in treating babies and children who have difficulty breathing, he's had up-close looks at how prospective parents make life-or-death decisions over the course of a pregnancy. This week, Hartnick discusses a risky procedure performed at birth for which parents must choose, at multiple stages, whether to prioritize the mother's life or the child's.