Prenatal screening and discriminatory attitudes about disability

Abstract

There is a widespread assumption, with the increased use of reproductive technologies, that prenatal screening reduces the incidence of disability and increases our quality of life. However, because of a growing awareness of the social and political implications of prenatal screening, people have begun to challenge these notions about the quality of life and social value of people with disabilities. This paper presents an overview of the issues surrounding prenatal screening of fetuses with intent to abort on the basis of disability. It raises some of the difficult social, political, and personal questions that women, especially prospective mothers, face regarding these issues, and suggests new perspectives for the decision-making process regarding abortion.