Prenatal Diagnostics and Ethical Dilemmas in a Mother Having a Child with Down Syndrome

Abstract

Prenatal diagnosis is supposed to allow autonomous decision making on the basis of personal goals, plans and values. However, often this type of decision-making may not be achieved, as various factors can be implicated in choosing an alternative between the available options concerning a pregnancy. The following case illustration presents a woman who decides against an amniocentesis, although there is an increased risk for a positive finding in prenatal diagnostics (PND), due to her age and a genetic problem in her family history. The aim of presenting this case is to show how such a decision may be associated with individual factors in one’s life. The clinical observations from the European, interdisciplinary EDIG study, which investigated how individuals experience ethical dilemmas due to prenatal diagnostics, suggest that certain behavioural characteristic (i.e. expressing ambivalent feelings and thoughts) and/or important past life experiences (i.e. affirming serious losses in one’s history) may comprise indicators for risk and protective factors for the psychological processes of women/couples facing a problematic situation when undergoing PND. The following case, Mrs K., participated in the EDIG study via responding to a series of questionnaires and two interviews. Both interviews were discussed within research group meetings and were qualitatively analysed. Analysis further supported the EDIG study’s hypotheses regarding the ways in which the manifestation of certain personality traits and past life experiences, may influence responses to decisions after PND. Important implications for medical and counselling practice were also provided.