Maternal Decisions Regarding Prenatal Diagnosis: Rational Choices or Sensible Decisions?

Abstract

The premise underlying prenatal testing is that knowing the health status of the fetus will enable expectant parents to make rational reproductive decisions. Accordingly, rational-choice perspectives have informed both counselling protocols and the majority of investigations into the psychological processes involved in making decisions about testing and selective abortion. However, because conditions inherent in the testing situation may not adhere to the basic assumptions of rational choice models, the use of these models may be inappropriate. The individualistic focus of rational choice models may be too narrow to encompass the social and psychological factors relevant to making a decision about testing. In light of these limitations, we make a case for adopting a contextual framework for conceptualizing decisions regarding the use of prenatal testing.

The role of attitudes towards the targets of behaviour in predicting and informing prenatal testing choices

“…In British society -as in many others -having a child with a learning disability is viewed less favourably than having a child without a disability for a range of personal and social reasons (Lawson & Pierson, 2007).…”

Understanding the Health Beliefs of First Time Mothers Who Request Elective Cesarean Versus Mothers who Request Vaginal Delivery

“…Research conducted with women making decisions about prenatal and genetic screening has provided some insight about decision making during pregnancy. Lawson and Pierson (2007) reported the importance of partner support and physician communication in the satisfaction with the decision, and that women often expressed dissatisfaction when they felt pushed into making the decision alone. Women making a decision about prenatal testing may feel pressure from their physicians or significant others to make certain decisions.…”

Parental duties and prenatal screening: Does an offer of prenatal screening lead women to believe that they are morally compelled to test?

“…These tests give an estimation of the chance that a fetus has a particular abnormality. Although the consensus on free parental decision making with regard to testing still prevails, the tendency to appeal to responsible parenthood is growing, with the claim that all relevant information concerning the health of the fetus should be obtained and used to benefit the prospective child (Clarkeburn, 2000;Williams et al, 2005;Herrissone-Kelly, 2006;Lawson and Pierson, 2007). It has been argued that women who decide not to undergo testing are morally responsible for intentionally bringing a disabled child into the world, for whom future suffering could have been avoided (Harris, 2000;Bennett and Harris, 2002;Suter, 2002).…”