A CRITICAL STUDY OF THE ETHICAL ISSUES IN TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY FOLLOWING PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS

Abstract

The research entitled "A Critical Study of the Ethical Issues in the
Termination of Pregnancy following Prenatal Diagnosis" consists of 2 objectives as
to study the termination of pregnancy following Prenatal diagnosis and 2) to analyze
the termination of pregnancy following Prenatal diagnosis of Mind of Ethical theory in
Utilitarianism and Deontology.
The results of the research revealed that recent advances in prenatal
testing technology have made for a diagnosis of genetic disorders and fetal
anormality. Most of the time termination of pregnancy is accepted for a proven fetal
disease and agreement terminate of pregnancy. Termination of pregnancy after
Prenatal diagnosis raised important ethical dilemma, Physicians and midwives are
faced with a conflict between the woman's right to self-determination on one hand
and the right to life of the child on the other.
Utilitarianism sees the greatest good as that which brings most happiness
and least pain. They wound be agreed that the mother's physical or mental health
would be more damaged by the continuation of the pregnancy than by its
termination or there was a substantial risk that the baby would be born witha
severe abnormality. Termination of pregnancy wound be the right action.
According to Deontology theory, Kant might have felt that termination of
pregnancy is wrong in all circumstances. This is because he believed that human life
was of infinite value and that it should be protected. He also believed that one of
the universal laws was "do not murder". Termination of pregnancy would break this
universal laws and end a valuable life.