Ethical considerations of mandatory pregnancy screening for chromosomal disorders: A Guidance
Background The purpose of this guidance is to present evidence surrounding ethical considerations regarding prenatal screening for chromosomal disorders; the pros and cons of making this procedure mandatory for expecting mothers, and the rules and regulations healthcare practitioners are advised to abide by. Pregnancy screening for chromosomal disorders could mean several things for different individuals, and this is important to consider in the application of healthcare systems. Knowledge of chromosomal disorder risk could result in dilemmas if pregnant women and couples’ choice is not in line with their cultural or religious needs. The overall evidence in the literature regarding pregnancy screening for chromosomal disorders highlight the role of choice in the decision-making process. Introduction Genomic medicine advancement has led to an important change in the types of genetic testing available for pregnant mothers, such as non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT). For this guidance article, this method will be of main focus. The National Screening Committee (NSC) has advised that every pregnant woman is offered to undergo screening for chromosomal abnormality; Down’s Syndrome (DS). According to …