"Wunsch nach einem perfekten Kind" und "Angstspirale": Perspektiven auf Pränataldiagnostik und Spätabbruch in der klinischen Praxis

Abstract: In recent years prenatal diagnostics evolved into an established element of prenatal care in Austria as well. However, its implementation is accompanied by discussions about its problematic ethical aspects, which occasionally get rather passionate. This study, which is part of a more comprehensive project on "Genetic Testing and Changing Images of 'Human Life'", funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency within its GEN-AU Program, analyses qualitative interviews with affected women, physicians and other health care professionals about their experiences with prenatal diagnostics and late term abortion in clinical practice of prenatal care. Besides the fact that prenatal diagnostics has become standard routine in Austria, which builds easily on a well-established program of prenatal care, the study shows the strong ambivalences of, and constraints for all actors, which emanate and are mutually enforced amongst other factors by the "care" and "desire for a perfect child".For more information please refer to: www.ihs.ac.at/steps/humanlife/english/home.html;