PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS AND BIOETHICS

“Bioethics” means the study of ethical issues arising from human involvement with life. Many concepts of bioethics can be traced in religions and cultural pattern that may or may not share some universal ideals. This is especially true when we talk of reproduction and genetics, prenatal diagnosis to specific diseases and cases will have become apparent to the thoughtful medical geneticists and practitioners. Decisions of undertake prenatal diagnosis , with more emphasizes on Iran, involve a complex assessment of the best interests of the fetus and parent’s interest. Parents often accept a recommendation for prenatal diagnosis that is approached collaboratively, especially if the test is of proven efficiency and have a low maternal/fetus risk also low cost. Decisions by parent’s especially pregnant women concerning fetal diagnostic clearly involve considerations as to what is best for the fetus. Thus, prenatal diagnosis poses a potential conflict between the parent’s own best interest , ideology , and very importantly faith on one side and perception of the best interests of the fetus. Therefore, in recommending prenatal diagnosis physicians should respect parental faith, choice and assessment of risk. In addition, of prenatal diagnosis is linked to selective abortion then the autonomy of the fetus plus religious faith of the parents could lead to a conflict. From the prenatal diagnosis experiences in Iran several other concerns have also been noticed by geneticists. These concerns were as follows: fairness of access to genetic services , indication for prenatal diagnosis, confidentiality problems, counseling incapacitated persons etc. One of the extremely important items to be concerned for the parents found to be abortion choices and legal restrictions due to Islamic faith and Islamic low practicing in Iran. Considering these factors, a code of ethics practical in Islamic countries such as Iran seems very necessary to be proposed.

Keywords:

prenatal Diagnosis , Biothics , Iran