Britain needs a proper national consultation on the use of the new non-invasive pre-natal tests for risk of Down’s syndrome, doctors have said.
The British Medical Association conference in Brighton gave its support yesterday to campaigners who have questioned the ethics of seeking to remove Down’s syndrome from the community.
The BMA agreed to lobby the government for a full public consultation on the implications of the new tests and whether limits should be placed.
The conference heard the programme could have a “profound effect” on the numbers of people with Down’s syndrome, reducing live births by 13%.
The programme is expected to identify an additional 102 foetuses with Down’s syndrome annually.
Dr Zoe Greaves, a member of the BMA’s medical ethics committee, told the conference: “In considering the advent of new technologies and the great potential they must offer, we must also sadly safeguard against ways in which they can be abused.”
Supporting the motion, Dr Mark Pickering said: “We must ensure that the use of non-invasive pre-natal testing, with the possible increase in resulting abortions, doesn’t lead to more stigma against children born with genetic conditions, nor a reduction in the support and expertise offered to such children and their families, nor any stigma towards parents who choose knowingly to raise a child with significant genetic condition.”
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