Ethical issues related to screening for Preeclampsia

TY - JOUR

T1 - Ethical issues related to screening for Preeclampsia

AU - Jørgensen, Jennifer M.

AU - Hedley, Paula L.

AU - Gjerris, Mickey

AU - Chistiansen, Michael

N1 - Article first published online: 19 SEP 2012

PY - 2014/9

Y1 - 2014/9

N2 - The implementation of new methods of treating and preventing disease raises many question of both technical and moral character. Currently, many studies focus on developing a screening test for preeclampsia (PE), a disease complicating 2-8% of pregnancies, potentially causing severe consequences for pregnant women and their fetuses. The purpose is to develop a test that can identify pregnancies at high risk for developing PE sufficiently early in pregnancy to allow for prophylaxis. However, the question of implementing a screening test for PE does not only involve an evaluation of technical feasibility and clinical efficacy, it also requires an analysis of how the test influences the conditions and choices for those tested. This study evaluates state-of-the-art techniques for preeclampsia screening in an ethical framework, pointing out the central areas of moral relevance within the context of such screening activity. Furthermore, we propose ethical guidelines that a screening programme for PE should meet in order to become an uncontroversial addition to prenatal health care.

AB - The implementation of new methods of treating and preventing disease raises many question of both technical and moral character. Currently, many studies focus on developing a screening test for preeclampsia (PE), a disease complicating 2-8% of pregnancies, potentially causing severe consequences for pregnant women and their fetuses. The purpose is to develop a test that can identify pregnancies at high risk for developing PE sufficiently early in pregnancy to allow for prophylaxis. However, the question of implementing a screening test for PE does not only involve an evaluation of technical feasibility and clinical efficacy, it also requires an analysis of how the test influences the conditions and choices for those tested. This study evaluates state-of-the-art techniques for preeclampsia screening in an ethical framework, pointing out the central areas of moral relevance within the context of such screening activity. Furthermore, we propose ethical guidelines that a screening programme for PE should meet in order to become an uncontroversial addition to prenatal health care.

U2 - 10.1111/j.1467-8519.2012.02005.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1467-8519.2012.02005.x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 22994561

SN - 0269-9702

VL - 28

SP - 360

EP - 367

JO - Bioethics

JF - Bioethics

IS - 7

ER -