Ethical issues related to prenatal genetic testing. The Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association

Abstract

This report examines ethical issues related to prenatal genetic testing, including the physician's role in promoting informed reproductive decisions and physician involvement in genetic selection and manipulation. In general, it would be ethically permissible to participate in genetic selection (abortion or embryo discard) or genetic manipulation to prevent, cure, or treat genetic disease. It would not be ethical to engage in selection on the basis of benign characteristics. Genetic manipulation of benign traits, though generally unacceptable, may be permissible under exceptional circumstances. At a minimum, three criteria would have to be satisfied: there would have to be a clear and meaningful benefit to the child, there could be no trade-off with other characteristics or traits, and all citizens would have to have equal access to the genetic technology, irrespective of income or other socioeconomic characteristics.