THE ETHICS OF ABORTION IN PRENATAL SCREENING AND DIAGNOSIS OF NUMERICAL CHROMOSOME ABNORMALITIES

The definition of numerical chromosome abnormalities (aneuploidies) in prenatal, postnatal genetics and preimplantation has a critical value in forecasting the evolution of pregnancy and the quality of life. Nowadays, when witnessing advanced prenatal screening and diagnosis, the collaboration between the geneticist, obstetrician, cytogeneticist, the ultrasound examiner, biochemist and bioethical specialist is highly compulsory. Facing the diagnosis of a chromosome abnormality, the clinician must present all possible options to such a family as well as the possibility that certain results might be falsely positive or falsely negative. When choosing to end a pregnancy with a chromosome abnormality diagnosis, multiple cultural, social and legal factors have an indirect role. In conclusion, the international literature mentions the right to life, yet the notion of "life" is not clearly defined, as a consequence of the philosophical, religious, scientific and bioethical interferences. Even the fundamental principles and thesis fail to provide clear explanations in this field, being able only to ascertain the legal ambiguities in this sense and solely mention that the right to life is an essential principle.