WA: HIGH ABORTION RATE AFTER PRENATAL TESTING: STUDY
AAP 25.07.97 12:49
Copyright 1997 The Australian Associated Press. Redistribution
unauthorised.
PERTH, July 25 AAP - More than 95 per cent of foetuses diagnosed
with Down syndrome were aborted or did not survive through the
pregnancy, a conference on human genetics was told in Fremantle
today.
Dr Jane Halliday, of Victoria's Royal Children's Hospital,
studied how often pregnancies were terminated when chromosome or
genetic abnormalities were diagnosed in 1992 and 1993, finding
just five of 105 Down syndrome babies were born alive.
She told the Human Genetics Diversity and Disease conference that
most women went into testing with certain expectations.
"Most people are going into these testing programs having
thought it through, and if the foetus is found to be carrying an
abnormality, they then terminate that pregnancy," Dr
Halliday said.
Women who were tested for abnormalities were so-called mature
mothers, above the age of 36, when the risk of chromosomal
abnormalities increases, and those with a family history of
inheritable conditions.
Dr Halliday said the rate of women having prenatal tests such as
amniocentesis was very high for those at risk.
The study found that of 60 cases in which cystic fibrosis or
Turner's syndrome were diagnosed, 90 per cent of foetuses were
aborted, and none survived the pregnancy.
In the case of Down syndrome, she said, again, not all of the
foetuses that did not survive the pregnancy were terminated.
"With Down syndrome, which is obviously one of great
interest, there are quite a few cases where the pregnancies are
continued, but a miscarriage occurs or the child is
stillborn," Dr Halliday said.
"For some of the major chromosome abnormalities, they're
destroying over 90 per cent."
Dr Halliday said a code of ethics prevented doctors from advising
women to abort foetuses with abnormalities.
Instead, parents were fully informed of the risks associated with
the particular condition, and were offered counselling.
"It's the right of the parents to make a choice about what
to do with the pregnancy," Dr Halliday said.
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