What are the primary ethical issues in prenatal screening and testing?

• A. Only cost concerns
• B. Reproductive autonomy, noninvasive vs invasive testing risks, potential for selective abortion, and implications for disability rights
• C. Test accuracy
• D. Marketing

Answer: (B)

Ethical issues in prenatal screening and testing focus on autonomy, safety, and the broader social meaning of the information gained. The best answer highlights four interconnected concerns. First, reproductive autonomy means that expectant parents should be able to decide whether to undergo screening, which tests to pursue, and how to act on the results, all with voluntary, informed, and nondirective counseling rather than pressure or coercion. Second, the balance of risks and benefits in testing matters: noninvasive options may have minimal physical risk but can bring psychological burdens or uncertain results, while invasive procedures carry real risks such as miscarriage; ethical practice requires clear information about these risks and realistic options. Third, there is the question of how results influence decisions about pregnancy, including the potential for selective abortion, which raises considerations about responsibility, equity, and the pressure families or societies may place on women and couples. Fourth, the implications for disability rights and societal attitudes toward disability are central: screening can affect how disability is valued and may contribute to stigma or devaluation of lives with disabilities unless care, support, and respect for diversity are also emphasized. While test accuracy and technical quality matter, the core ethical landscape is how autonomy is supported, risks managed, decisions respected, and social meanings addressed.