Introduction
Blood tests for Down syndrome are ethical and should be available to everyone. In my opinion, this decision is the most ethical because it invites parents to make an informed decision. The rationale for finding this option is the most ethical theory of utilitarianism. An action is morally justified if it leads to the greatest welfare for the greatest number of people (Pence, 2016). This theory works because prenatal testing minimizes the negative consequences for all participants in the scenario. The key points of contention in the discussion are the justification of the risks, the ethical choice on the principle of health, and the responsibility for stigmatization.
Opposite Position
The key term in this discussion is ‘prenatal testing’, specifically referring to blood testing during the first trimester of pregnancy. The ubiquity of this screening becomes close to eugenics, in which people choose to reproduce children only with certain characteristics (Nov-Klaiman et al., 2022). The strength of this argument is that children with Down syndrome have a chance to grow up able-bodied. However, my opinion is that all parents should be able to make an informed choice.
Most Important Things:
- Prenatal testing is safe for future mothers and fetuses.
- When developing new medical technologies, ethical considerations must be taken into account.
- During pregnancy, parents should be able to make an informed decision.
Ethical Theory
The fundamental point in utilitarianism is proceeding from a moral assessment of the result of an action. The parents of the child are either prepared for possible difficulties, or they make a balanced decision. The child also benefits: their parents are either fully committed to doing everything possible for their health and development, or they are not experiencing pain. Expectant parents are mentally prepared, thereby significantly reducing the risk of postpartum depression (Smith et al., 2018). Parents can take training courses, and a child with Down syndrome will be more likely to grow up healthy.
Conclusion
Prenatal testing can be considered ethical. Screening blood tests provides an opportunity for parents to decide on the birth and upbringing of a child with special needs. When making a positive decision, future parents have the opportunity to prepare mentally for the birth. Prenatal testing for Down Syndrome has nothing to do with eugenics, as the decision is made by the parents themselves. Providing every prospective parent with the possibility of such testing should become mandatory.
References
Nov-Klaiman, T., Raz, A. E., & Hashiloni-Dolev, Y. (2022). A test of faith? Attitudes of ultraorthodox Jewish parents of children with down syndrome toward prenatal testing. Disability & Society, 1-21.
Pence, G. E. (2016). Medical Ethics: Accounts of Ground-breaking Cases, 8th edition. London: McGraw-Hill.
Smith, S. K., Cai, A., Wong, M., Sousa, M. S., Peate, M., Welsh, A., & Barclay, M. (2018). Improving women’s knowledge about prenatal screening in the era of non-invasive prenatal testing for Down syndrome–development and acceptability of a low literacy decision aid. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 18(1), 1-14.