From the BBC, [UK] Channel 4:

A UK charity representing people with Down syndrome has condemned as “unhelpful” recent research concluding that prenatal testing for the condition is resulting in widespread miscarriages of fetuses that did not have Down syndrome.

The study, conducted by researchers associated with Down Syndrome Education International, estimated that two unaffected fetuses are miscarried for every three pregnancies involving Down syndrome that are terminated as a result of prenatal screening and testing. The research estimated that 400 UK miscarriages could be attributed to prenatal testing for Down syndrome annually; an estimated 660 UK pregnancies are aborted following a Down syndrome diagnosis each year.

Speaking for the UK Down’s Syndrome Association, Professor Jennifer Wishart, professor of developmental disabilities in childhood at the University of Edinburgh, said:

“There has never been any dispute that current diagnostic techniques have associated risk and that women need to be better and fully informed of these risks.

“The ‘two for three’ emphasis – that two healthy babies are lost for every three babies with Down’s syndrome prenatally detected – simply muddies the waters.”

See also:

• Two healthy babies miscarried for every three Down’s syndrome babies detected — [UK] Telegraph
• Tests to detect Down’s syndrome are damaging too many unborn babies — [UK] Mirror

Earlier post here.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 17th, 2008 at 8:52 am and is filed under abortion, Down syndrome, ethics, genetics, prenatal diagnosis, selective termination, video. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.