Anticipated ethical challenges with growing molecular prenatal diagnosis in Nigeria

Abstract

Prenatal diagnostic testing is gaining more anticipated acceptance in Nigeria as more expectant mothers are offered tests to detect presence or absence of monogenetic disorders associated with foetus such as sickle cell disease. It is however known that many ethical quandaries are related to the process. These issues comprise the counselling skills, type and method of sample collection, justification for the tests requested, option of selected abortion of affected foetus and violation of other ethical principles. Ethical standards in medical laboratories are derived from medical ethics therefore, the four fundamental principles are important in managing genetic testing processes. The principles are autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. These ethical issues are discussed in this paper vis-à-vis the foetus, the pregnant woman, society, counselling and informed consent.

Keywords: Counselling, Diagnosis, Ethics, Molecular, Prenatal