Navigating the Troubled Waters of Prenatal Testing Decisions

Abstract

‘Informed decision making’ is considered to be a basic prerequisite in prenatal testing, but there are many difficulties with this concept, not least in defining what information people need (Green et al., 2004). Parents need information about the pros and cons of accepting prenatal screening, as well as the specific processes involved. Additionally, if parents-to-be are to make decisions that are consistent with their own value systems, it is likely that they need some information about the target condition so that they can form a judgement about what it would be like to live with an affected child. This chapter brings together two studies within the Innovative Health Technologies Programme that focused on the social context and implications of prenatal genetic screening and testing technologies. One examined the social and organisational implications of innovative and established modes of prenatal screening as defined, perceived and communicated by health professionals and pregnant women. The other explored women’s views about a range of conditions for which prenatal genetic screening is likely to be possible in the future. This chapter draws on the thoughts and feelings of women from both studies concerning the possibility of having a baby with one of the conditions for which there are or will be screening tests.