title: Views of American OB/GYNs on the ethics of prenatal whole-genome sequencing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Given public demand for genetic information, the potential to perform prenatal whole-genome sequencing (PWGS) non-invasively in the future, and decreasing costs of whole-genome sequencing, it is likely that OB/GYN practice will include PWGS. The goal of this project was to explore OB/GYNs' views on the ethical issues surrounding PWGS and their preparedness for counseling patients on its use.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national survey was administered to 2500 members of American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1114 respondents completed the survey (response rate = 45%). OB/GYNs are most concerned with ordering non-medical fetal genetic information, are worried about increasing parental anxiety, and feel it is appropriate to be directive when counseling parents about PWGS. Furthermore, most OB/GYNs have limited knowledge of genetics, rely heavily on genetic counselors and would like more guidance regarding the clinical adoption of PWGS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OB/GYNs do not completely accept or reject PWGS, but a substantial number have significant ethical and practical concerns. They are most concerned with issues that will directly affect their practices and interactions with patients, such as increasing parental anxiety and costs of care. Professional guidance would be instrumental in directing the adoption of PWGS and alleviating the ethical burden posed by PWGS on individual OB/GYNs. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioethics, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bayefsky
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Amina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology Service, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wakim
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioethics, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.|Bioethics Core, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Sara Chandros
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hull
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioethics, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wasserman
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioethics, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioethics, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.|Bioethics Core, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Berkman
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004989:Ethics; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000523:psychology; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000941:ethics* / Q000379:methods; D006176:Gynecology / Q000941:ethics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000941:ethics*; D010820:Physicians / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000941:ethics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000941:ethics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States