With rapidly expanding capabilities in prenatal diagnosis and treatment resulting from new technologies, the medical profession is increasingly being confronted with legal uncertainties and ethical dilemmas. In this paper, we review current acceptable standards of care in the area of medical practice as related to genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis. We emphasize that any attempts at therapeutic genetic intervention be carried out only 1) when there is reasonable scientific evidence that it will cure or prevent a disabling disease, and b) with the informed, voluntary, competent, and understanding consent of the individuals involved.
KEY WORDS: prenatal diagnosis, genetic counseling, genetic interventions
INTRODUCT JON In recent years there has been a growing expectation from the public that medical science, especially obstetrics and genetics, can ensure that only healthy babies are born. In the past physicians felt relatively comfortable in determining what was considered appropriate ethical conduct related to health care practice, and there was little practical concern regarding legal liabilities. However, with rapidly expanding capabilities in fetal diagnosis and treatment resulting from new technologies, physicians now face numerous ethical dilemmas with uncertainty and confusion while practicing in a climate in which malpractice suits threaten even the most competent and conscientious practitioner. We dis-