Fetal diagnosis and therapy
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Fetal. Diagn. Ther. · Apr 1993
Effect of the Human Genome Initiative on women's rights and reproductive decisions.
The Human Genome Project is likely to exacerbate historic tendencies to balance demographic concerns on the backs of women. This kind of policy is unjustified in law and violates classic theories of justice. Reproductive decision making, which affects women personally, is not the legitimate domain of community concern or manipulation.
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Reproductive genetic technology provides unprecedented opportunities for pregnant women and their families to obtain direct information about the genetic makeup of their developing fetus. Ultrasonography, maternal serum markers, amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling and percutaneous umbilical blood sampling already offer opportunities for prenatal diagnosis in early pregnancy. New techniques, such as preimplantation, prenatal diagnosis and fetal cell sorting offer opportunities for prenatal diagnosis in even earlier stages of pregnancy.
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Fetal. Diagn. Ther. · Apr 1993
Access to reproductive genetic services for low-income women and women of color.
This article examines access to reproductive genetics services for low-income women and women of color. It explores implications of the use of reproductive technologies; access and barriers to general prenatal care and its impact on accessing reproductive-genetic services; the implications of obtaining reproductive genetic services through public programs and funding, especially as they relate to equal provision of services. The traditional barriers to reproductive-genetics services; the decision-making process involved in genetic counseling when Caucasians dominate the process of counseling people of color; financial/insurance barriers to care for low- and moderate-income clients are also addressed. Recommendations are made to address the problems and inequities.
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Fetal. Diagn. Ther. · Apr 1993
The law's response to reproductive genetic testing: questioning assumptions about choice, causation and control.
The law's response to reproductive genetic testing depends on a number of assumptions about choice, causation and control which need to be questioned. From the preconception stage forward, the illusion of choice may raise such fundamental questions as the woman's choice not to be tested, limits on genetic information, and the availability of reproductive options. In turn, assumptions about choice raise questions about the responsibility for results and the connection between choice and causation in the context of wrongful birth and life actions. Assumptions made about control over reproductive choice and over causing 'harm', will impact on the development of future law.
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The techniques of prenatal genetic diagnosis are being used with increasing frequency in the provision of prenatal care. One aim of such testing is to benefit pregnant women. ⋯ The influence of testing on anxiety during pregnancy, on a woman's sense of control over the progress and outcome of pregnancy, and on a woman's relationships with her partner and future child are all of concern. Investigation of these questions should be integral to studies undertaken to assess prenatal genetic testing.