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pubmed:otherAbstract |
PIP: The study of human genetics and developments therein have truly made great strides in recent years. The tendency to immediately introduce new technology into medical practice, however, suggests the urgent need to consider the ethics of our recently developed and developing technological prowess, as well as the long- and short-term impacts of these changes. The authors therefore review and consider published field experiences specifically related to prenatal diagnosis. Noninvasive screening tests during pregnancy, the isolation of fetal cells from maternal circulation for prenatal diagnosis, amniocentesis, and molecular genetic techniques which analyze DNA are considered. In response to the increasing number of prospective parents who want to have a prenatal assessment of normal fetal well-being, voluntary ultrasound screening programs have developed. New available techniques make the diagnosis of fetal maldevelopments more frequent and more precise. The practice seems safe within the limits of current practice. As for the isolation of fetal cells from maternal circulation for prenatal diagnosis, large clinical pilot trials are needed to especially determine the method's sensitivity and specificity for use in either screening or diagnosis. This approach should be under tight control to avoid potential misuse.
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