Ethical issues in the diagnosis and management of fetal disorders

Abstract

The ethics of diagnosis and management of fetal genetic disorders are particularly controversial because of the contested status of the fetus and perceptions of genetics. An additional complicating factor is the potential conflict between mother and fetus. Ethical issues in diagnosis include the nature and purpose of the diagnosis itself, and management of the information. Management of the disorder includes issues of termination as an option, and the emerging field of fetal gene therapy with associated issues of somatic versus germ-line interventions.