Prenatal Diagnosis
Chromosomal abnormalities can be diagnosed in unborn children via amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS). Amniocentesis is usually performed between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, and involves removing and analyzing a sample of amniotic fluid--the fluid that surrounds the baby (Kaiser Permanente, 2013). A thin needle is inserted into a woman's abdominal wall and fetal cells are extracted for analysis. The risk for miscarriage is less than 1 in 300 after the procedure, however, if amniocentisis is performed early (between 14 and 15 weeks) risk increases to 1 in 100. CVS is usually performed between 10 weeks and 13 weeks of pregnancy (Kaiser Permanente, 2013). A sample of the developing placenta is removed (the chorionic villi) and fetal chromosomes are evaluated in the laboratory. Transabdominal CVS is done by inserting a thin needle through the woman's abdominal wall into the uterus and removing a small sample of the placental tissue (chorionic villi). Transcervical CVS is done by inserting a thin flexible tube (a catheter) through the vagina and cervix into the uterus and removing a small sample of the placental tissue (chorionic villi). The risk for miscarriage after CVS is 1 in 300 or less. In about 3-5% of CVS tests, the result is unclear and further testing may be recommended (Kaiser Permanente, 2013).
Results from CVS and amniocentesis will accurately tell whether or not the baby has a chromosome abnormality, such as Down syndrome or trisomy 18. However, CVS does not detect neural tube defects (NTDs).
Prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling may lead women to abort babies on the basis of genetic defects. Significant questions for parents considering abortion on the basis of prenatal diagnosis include: How serious is the chromosomal abnormality? How will it affect my child's quality of life? Am I willing to face the challenges of parenting a special needs child? Throughout the process, it is imperative that parents evaluate all available treatments and options. The final decision depends on the patients' perception of disabilities, their financial situation, their ethical beliefs, and their desire for a baby.
Common Diagnoses:
Down's Syndrome
Fragile X
Cystic Fibrosis
Cleft Palate
Klinefelter's Syndrome
Some parents choose to abort for characteristics such as gender, which raises further ethical controversies. Where do geneticists draw the line between practicing medicine, and "playing God?"
Article of Interest: Tracking Prenatal Health, the Burden of Knowledge. <http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/20/us/burden-knowledge-tracking-prenatal-health-new-tests-for-fetal-defects-agonizing.html>
Results from CVS and amniocentesis will accurately tell whether or not the baby has a chromosome abnormality, such as Down syndrome or trisomy 18. However, CVS does not detect neural tube defects (NTDs).
Prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling may lead women to abort babies on the basis of genetic defects. Significant questions for parents considering abortion on the basis of prenatal diagnosis include: How serious is the chromosomal abnormality? How will it affect my child's quality of life? Am I willing to face the challenges of parenting a special needs child? Throughout the process, it is imperative that parents evaluate all available treatments and options. The final decision depends on the patients' perception of disabilities, their financial situation, their ethical beliefs, and their desire for a baby.
Common Diagnoses:
Down's Syndrome
Fragile X
Cystic Fibrosis
Cleft Palate
Klinefelter's Syndrome
Some parents choose to abort for characteristics such as gender, which raises further ethical controversies. Where do geneticists draw the line between practicing medicine, and "playing God?"
Article of Interest: Tracking Prenatal Health, the Burden of Knowledge. <http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/20/us/burden-knowledge-tracking-prenatal-health-new-tests-for-fetal-defects-agonizing.html>
Selective Abortion or Gendercide?
Primary controversies associated with selective abortion focus on the issue of gender. Is it ethical to abort a baby solely on the basis of gender? If so, will an increased number of selective abortions detrimentally skew the United State population? Thus far, legislation banning this practice has been rejected by the United States government (Steinhauer, 2012).
"In her Pulitzer-Prize nominated book Unnatural Selection: Choosing Boys Over Girls and the Consequences of a World Full of Men, journalist Mara Hvistendahl takes a close look at the distorted sex ratios among the populations of China and India. Hvistendahl writes, "sex selection has resulted in an imbalance of over 100 million more men than women worldwide." Inexpensive ultrasound technology has enabled this imbalance as couples can now learn whether they are having boys or girls and respond with "selective abortions" if having a girl seems undesirable."
-Amy Julia Becker, The Social Construction of Selective Abortion, 2013
Some Americans feel that we could end up like China and India--countries where the population is highly skewed in favor of men. This could, of course, work in the opposite way for women. Individuals on both sides of the issue agree that neither prospect would be good for the future of the United States.
"In her Pulitzer-Prize nominated book Unnatural Selection: Choosing Boys Over Girls and the Consequences of a World Full of Men, journalist Mara Hvistendahl takes a close look at the distorted sex ratios among the populations of China and India. Hvistendahl writes, "sex selection has resulted in an imbalance of over 100 million more men than women worldwide." Inexpensive ultrasound technology has enabled this imbalance as couples can now learn whether they are having boys or girls and respond with "selective abortions" if having a girl seems undesirable."
-Amy Julia Becker, The Social Construction of Selective Abortion, 2013
Some Americans feel that we could end up like China and India--countries where the population is highly skewed in favor of men. This could, of course, work in the opposite way for women. Individuals on both sides of the issue agree that neither prospect would be good for the future of the United States.