The ethics of prenatal screening and abortion for fetal abnormality: A personal view

Abstract

There are usually good arguments to permit abortion at maternal request, and prenatal screening programmes that lead to abortion need no extra justification insofar as they increase parental choice. However, in practice, state funded programmes arc often also driven by a desire to reduce handicap. Such eugenic programmes discriminate against the handicapped, and have no failsafe mechanism to prevent their extension to include minor disabilities, or social disadvantage. Health policy makers should seek decision-making guides, such as die free market, that have such safeguards. New prenatal screening programmes should not be introduced by state providers until they have first demonstrated demand in the market.