Striking a Balance: Medical Ethics Insights on Treating Cervical Cancer in Pregnancy with Reduced Standard Radiation via IMRT

Roland M. Panaligan

Oct 2025 DOI 10.35460/2546-1621.2025-0232     Access   

Abstract

Cervical cancer during pregnancy poses a rare and complex clinical and ethical challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as the Philippines. The dual obligation to preserve maternal life while protecting fetal viability requires a nuanced balance between medical science, ethics, and cultural values. This commentary explores the ethical implications of treating cervical cancer in pregnancy using Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) at reduced standard radiation volumes, highlighting how medical innovation intersects with the principles of biomedical ethics.

Keywords: cervical cancer in pregnancy, IMRT, biomedical ethics, autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, ethical decision-making, fetal safety, shared decision-making

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