Dignity, suffering and the law: An ethico-legal comparative analysis of pain management

Marno’s research concerns access to pain treatment in the United Kingdom, with a specific focus on obstetric epidural administration to women during childbirth. While critically examining the comparatively low uptake of women in the UK (especially those from marginalised communities), he explores ethical questions of antinaturalism in reproduction – particularly as it relates to the veneration of birthing pain – and women’s reproductive autonomy. Marno argues in his research that women’s autonomy can be enhanced if epidural practice is changed from an opt-in to an opt-out intervention.