Human Heredity 9th Edition by Michael Cummings

تمرين 1

Michelle was a 42-year-old woman who had declined counseling and amniocentesis at 16 weeks of pregnancy but was referred for genetic counseling after an abnormal ultrasound at 20 weeks of gestation. After the ultrasound, a number of findings suggested a possible chromosome abnormality in the fetus. The ultrasound showed swelling under the skin at the back of the fetus's neck; shortness of the femur, humerus, and ear length; and underdevelopment of the middle section of the fifth finger. Michelle's physician performed an amniocentesis and referred her to the genetics program. Michelle and her husband did not want genetic counseling before receiving the results of the cytogenetic analysis.
This was Michelle's third pregnancy; she and her husband, Mike, had a 6-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son. At their next session, the counselor informed the couple that the results revealed trisomy 21, explored their understanding of Down syndrome, and elicited their experiences with people with disabilities. She also reviewed the clinical concerns revealed by the ultrasound and associated anomalies (mild to severe intellectual disability, cardiac defects, and kidney problems). The options available to the couple were outlined. They were provided with a booklet written for parents making choices after the prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. After a week of careful deliberation with their family, friends, and clergy, they elected to terminate the pregnancy.
Do you think that this couple had the right to terminate the pregnancy in light of the prenatal diagnosis? If not, under what circumstance would a couple have this right? What other options were available to the couple?