Is amniocentesis moral?

[Red_Meg]

Is it moral for a pregnant woman to have an amniocentesis? I understand that, in general, diagnostic medical tests would be morally neutral. Amnio, however, poses a .5% miscarriage risk and can only identify nontreatable conditions such as Down Syndrome. As far as I can tell it is only done for “peace of mind” purposes (or to flag “defective” babies for abortion if the parents are of such a mindset). I’d appreciate your thoughts on this matter.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Not being a medical bioethicist, all I can say is that it is true that, generally speaking, diagnostic tests such as the amniocentesis are moral when they are used for legitimate purposes. For more information on the specific concerns surrounding the amniocentesis, I recommend contacting the National Catholic Bioethics Center.