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irom
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What is the church view of Prenatal screening or diagnosis ? Is it allowed if it is aimed to help the child ?
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Robbinson
Guest
yes - if intended to be used to advance the health of the unborn child (but not to encourage or faciliate termination of the pregnancy).What is the church view of Prenatal screening or diagnosis ? Is it allowed if it is aimed to help the child ?
Blessings,
Brian
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AHapka
Guest
There have been in-utero surgeries performed, so good ends can come from it.
Prenatal screening is in and of itself morally neutral. As the previous poster stated, it’s the ends that matter.
Prenatal screening is in and of itself morally neutral. As the previous poster stated, it’s the ends that matter.
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Snowy
Guest
In my experience, their only purpose is to give the parents an opportunity to abort the fetus. I got the impression that the medical establishment doesn’t want kids with Down syndrome around.
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StCsDavid
Guest
I wouldn’t put the burden on the medical establishment as much as the culture at large. Keep in mind, we live in a society where 25% of pregnancies are terminated by abortion. We’re Americans. We kill our babies in the womb out of convenience. Our laws permit us to do this from conception to birth. 4,000 killed every day just because we can.In my experience, their only purpose is to give the parents an opportunity to abort the fetus. I got the impression that the medical establishment doesn’t want kids with Down syndrome around.
One Believes Abortion Made America.
Sorry, got off topic. As to the OP’s question. Yes it is permissible to do prenatal screening as many ailments can be treated in the womb or at least get the parents prepared to deal with problems once the child is born.
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maggie2
Guest
I agree that it depends on what you do with the information - choose life or death. However…
‘Prenatal Screening’ is a very broad term - if you’re talking about doing the screening during the first trimester - there is one specific one that tests for the likelyhood of Down’s syndrome, trisomy 18 and spina bifida. I’ve always declined this particular test because the purpose of it is to truely give parents an option to abort - that is really the only reason for the test. Even my doctor told me that if I definately wasn’t going to abort, don’t bother with the test.
If your results come back with an increased chance of any of those conditions, further testing is required - this not only puts the baby at risk (usually by amniocentesis), but the parents will likely experience a great deal of worry and stress as well - sometimes for no reason as the baby is perfectly healthy.
Any severe abnormalities that would need attention would be detected at the 20 week ultrasound or by the routine prenatal exams, so IMO, there is really no reason for the first trimester screening other than to ‘help’ couples decide whether or not to abort.
‘Prenatal Screening’ is a very broad term - if you’re talking about doing the screening during the first trimester - there is one specific one that tests for the likelyhood of Down’s syndrome, trisomy 18 and spina bifida. I’ve always declined this particular test because the purpose of it is to truely give parents an option to abort - that is really the only reason for the test. Even my doctor told me that if I definately wasn’t going to abort, don’t bother with the test.
If your results come back with an increased chance of any of those conditions, further testing is required - this not only puts the baby at risk (usually by amniocentesis), but the parents will likely experience a great deal of worry and stress as well - sometimes for no reason as the baby is perfectly healthy.
Any severe abnormalities that would need attention would be detected at the 20 week ultrasound or by the routine prenatal exams, so IMO, there is really no reason for the first trimester screening other than to ‘help’ couples decide whether or not to abort.
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VACatholicMom
Guest
Like others have said, prenatal screenings are acceptable if you are not planning to use the results as a reason to abort. Keep in mind, though, that false negatives are *very *common with these tests and may cause undue stress and anxiety, as well as a need for further testing. Some of the secondary diagnostic tests (like the amniocentesis) pose a small risk to the fetus. Also consider that if your baby is shown to have a problem such as a heart defect or Downs Syndrome, your caregiver may pressure you to abort.
I personally chose not to have these diagnostic tests done during any of my four pregnancies, and I do not intend to have them with this, my fifth pregnancy. Heart and brain malfunctions can usually be seen during an ultrasound, which poses little to no threat to the growing fetus.
I personally chose not to have these diagnostic tests done during any of my four pregnancies, and I do not intend to have them with this, my fifth pregnancy. Heart and brain malfunctions can usually be seen during an ultrasound, which poses little to no threat to the growing fetus.
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MomblessedX3
Guest
I don’t think prenatal screenings as part of routine prenatal care is at all an issue. I doctored in a Catholic Hospital and we did all sorts of screenings. It looked like my 2nd child was going to have spinal bifida so we needed specialists on hand just in case.
It wasn’t done to terminate but to be prepared.
Thank God above…she was born healthy and remains so today.
It wasn’t done to terminate but to be prepared.
Thank God above…she was born healthy and remains so today.
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irom
Guest
I’m sure that we wouldn’t abort child with Down syndrome. …But perhaps you’re right, too early screening could find us vulnerable for short change of minds …I agree that it depends on what you do with the information - choose life or death. However…
‘Prenatal Screening’ is a very broad term - if you’re talking about doing the screening during the first trimester - there is one specific one that tests for the likelyhood of Down’s syndrome, trisomy 18 and spina bifida. I’ve always declined this particular test because the purpose of it is to truely give parents an option to abort - that is really the only reason for the test. Even my doctor told me that if I definately wasn’t going to abort, don’t bother with the test.
If your results come back with an increased chance of any of those conditions, further testing is required - this not only puts the baby at risk (usually by amniocentesis), but the parents will likely experience a great deal of worry and stress as well - sometimes for no reason as the baby is perfectly healthy.
Any severe abnormalities that would need attention would be detected at the 20 week ultrasound or by the routine prenatal exams, so IMO, there is really no reason for the first trimester screening other than to ‘help’ couples decide whether or not to abort.
M
maggie2
Guest
BTW, sounds like you are expecting - so, congratulations!!!
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