ETHICAL PROBLEMS IN PRENATAL-DIAGNOSIS - PEDIATRIC CONSIDERATIONS

In Europe, the recent advances in prenatal diagnosis and their practic al consequences have elicited political rather then ethical discussion s. An attempt will be made to outline and to ethically evaluate criter ia pertaining to the termination of pregnancy because of malformation or disease of the fetus, Is it possible to determine the beginning of life, of an individual, of a personality? Are the severity of a malfor mation or disease, the duration of life to be expected, and the probab le time of onset of relevant disease symptoms measurable parameters th at can be used to arrive at an ethically correct or at least acceptabl e decision? In spite of efforts towards ethical objectivity, it appear s difficult to set criteria completely independent of professional exp erience and responsibilities, and of legal liabilities sometimes resul ting in dialectical patterns of thinking, The mothers' needs and wishe s will play a paramount role in obstetric considerations, The paediatr ic point of view necessarily emphasizes the best interest of the child . Ethical criteria can not provide unequivocal answers, They can help, however, in a 'no-win' situation, to find an acceptable way between t wo 'evils': the death of an unborn child or the birth of a child with a severe disease.