title: The obstetrician's view: ethical and societal implications of non-invasive prenatal diagnosis.
abstract: We believe non-invasive prenatal diagnosis is about to have a massive impact on the way fetal medicine is practised. There will be many great advantages and improvements, but the technology also has the potential to be used for non-medical reasons such as sex selection and paternity testing. We discuss some of the issues that may face obstetricians in the future as a result of this emerging technology.
authors.affiliation: Fetal Medicine Research Unit, University of Bristol, St Michaels' Hospital.
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Hennie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lombaard
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Soothill
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004899:Erythroblastosis, Fetal / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000941:ethics*; D010334:Paternity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000941:ethics* / Q000379:methods; D046269:Reproductive Rights; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis / Q000941:ethics* / Q000379:methods; D012743:Sex Preselection / Q000941:ethics* / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D004247:DNA