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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Warum ist Pränataldiagnostik in der Diskussion? Eine Einführung

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Prenatal diagnosis has been a subject of intense discussion since it became technically achievable. This is because the results it provides can dramatically change the attitude of mothers towards their unborn children, and can lead to considerable social pressure to abort the child. These undesirable effects might come as a surprise, given that prenatal testing was primarily intended to allow better care for infants waiting to be born. The possible risks of invasive procedures and the only statistical evidence of results are the factors most responsible for the ambivalent attitudes that surround prenatal diagnosis. Another significant factor is the discrepancy between the general availability (and indeed the promotion) of prenatal diagnosis and the lack of adequate medical treatment for some of the diseases that might be diagnosed. A further factor is the fear that it could be used for eugenic purposes. Over and above the normative discussion, attention also needs to be given to the concrete situation of couples faced with a troubling diagnosis. The articles in this volume offer reflections, from different angles, on such situations.