Methods and consequences of prenatal diagnostics.

Prenatal medicine is a young subdiscipline of modern obstetrics. It applies diagnostic methods like amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling and foeta l blood sampling. The latter is not only a diagnostic procedure but opens a ccess to the foetal circulation and therefore to foetal therapy. Aim of pre natal diagnostic procedures is the most exact diagnosis of the foetal condi tion as basis for rational obstetrical decisions. If a foetal disease is di agnosed, decisions are in principal similar to the postnatal situation, but therapeutic options are reduced. Decision making in prenatal medicine alwa ys has to take maternal and foetal interests into account. We have to consi der that not the methods but the intention and actions of the persons invol ved may cause an ethical dilemma. It must be our aim to use the methods of prenatal medicine with the utmost responsibility.