title: [Methods and consequences of pre-natal diagnostics].
abstract: Prenatal medicine is a young subdiscipline of modern obstetrics. It applies diagnostic methods like amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling and foetal blood sampling. The latter is not only a diagnostic procedure but opens access to the foetal circulation and therefore to foetal therapy. Aim of prenatal diagnostic procedures is the most exact diagnosis of the foetal condition as basis for rational obstetrical decisions. If a foetal disease is diagnosed, decisions are in principal similar to the postnatal situation, but therapeutic options are reduced. Decision making in prenatal medicine always has to take maternal and foetal interests into account. We have to consider that not the methods but the intention and actions of the persons involved may cause an ethical dilemma. It must be our aim to use the methods of prenatal medicine with the utmost responsibility.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Geburtshilfe, Departement Frauenheilkunde, UniversitätsSpital, Zürich, Schweiz. josef.wisser@fhk.usz.ch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wisser
mesh_terms: D000649:Amniocentesis; D015193:Chorionic Villi Sampling; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis
vernacular_title: Methoden und Konsequenzen der pränatalen Diagnostik.