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RISK, MEDICINE AND WOMEN: A CASE STUDY ON PRENATAL GENETIC COUNSELLING IN BRAZIL
Author(s) -
GUILAM MARIA CRISTINA R.,
CORRÊA MARILENA C.D.V.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
developing world bioethics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.398
H-Index - 27
eISSN - 1471-8847
pISSN - 1471-8731
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-8847.2007.00193.x
Subject(s) - abortion , genetic counseling , therapeutic abortion , context (archaeology) , anencephaly , medicine , prenatal diagnosis , prenatal care , pregnancy , family medicine , psychiatry , gynecology , environmental health , fetus , population , genetics , paleontology , biology
Genetic counselling is an important aspect of prenatal care in many developed countries. This tendency has also begun to emerge in Brazil, although few medical centres offer this service. Genetic counselling provides prenatal risk control through a process of individual decision‐making based on medical information, in a context where diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities overlap. Detection of severe foetal anomalies can lead to a decision involving possible termination of pregnancy. This paper focuses on medical and legal consequences of the detection of severe foetal anomalies, mainly anencephaly and Down syndrome, and in light of the fact that abortion is illegal in Brazil. The discussion is based on the literature and empirical research at a high‐complexity public hospital in Rio de Janeiro.