The moral dilemmas posed by advancing science

.lames Short( reports On the difficulties involved in pit.'-birth screening and interviews one of the lecturers at the annual conference of the Catholic Nurses Guild at Newcastle.
THE HIDDEN dilemmas associated with screening a baby hefore its birth were explained this week to nurses attending the national conference of the Catholic Nurses Guild at St Mars's College, l'enham, Blackpool.
consultant obstetrician and gy rmee,dogist and a Catholic theologian told nurses of the moral and medical implications of pre-natal screening. Dr John McGlone said advances in science and medicine allowed
doctors to identify Chromosomal abnormalities in the foetus. In Britain, however, it appeared hospital policy that detection should be followed by abortion.
"Because of the limited screening facilities most areas in B maul will not screen a mother unless she agrees in advance to an abortion should defects he found," Dr McGlone said. He saw no hope or abortion and pre-natal screening being divorced.
Dr Mailone was speaking at the conference's "Dilemma's tin for the Christian nurses conscience". He outlined three modes of pre-natal screening used to detect such conditions as Down's syndrome (mongolism) and Open Neural rube defects (e.g. eneephally. spina bifida). The moral and ethical problems of screening were amffiied by Er O'Dowd. a theologian from Ushaw College. Durham.
The three methods of prenatal screening offered to a nu a It el7, LI 'spelled 01. carry ine, an wins were
abnormal • Serum ;Ilia-leioprotein test • Ultrasound scan • \ inniocentesis 111aletoprotein is a substance
lOund in excess in the mother's blood during pregnancy. and in the zumnotic Iluld ),Inch surrounds the hahs in the uterus (womb). An initial blood est scrum alfa-letoprotein can alert the doctor to chromosome abnormality.
It is usual then. to perform On Ultrasound scan. Ultrasound was initial]) used during the Second World War by naval vessels to either detect stillMarines or submerged rocks and v. rec Ls. It ins olves the emission 4,0). high frequency sound wises, I he pulse 01 these waves arc so rapid that they go undetected hy the human ear. IF the wages are directed at an ohjeyt, the pattern of the echoes "bouncinghack enables an electronic sound-picture to he huilt up.
This method is ■ en. safe and has a wide range of uses modern obstetrics. It is possible to diagnose a pregnancy in its very earls stages saline Iikcwue being able to determine whether the bats) has died in the uterus. The scan also has man) beneficial uses in detecting gynaecological conditions.
However. the Ultrasound scan can also pick up abnormal growths such as a spina bifida lesion. The usual course is then to suggest the mother has an abortion.
The remaining method of screening is known as Amniocentesis. This invokes the insertion of a needle through the abdominal wall into the amino' ie sac which .surrounds the hahs. The proeedures is
usually carried out in conjunction, with Ultrasound scan to enable safe siting.
.\ sample of amniotic fluid is drawn Off and later tested for chromosomal and allaletoprotein ahnormalifies Along a similar principle a Icioscopy can he done. This involves the insertion of a needle-like scope into the uterus through the abdomen. Through it the doctor is able to view the hahy, take small sample of its tissue and even its blood.
Both Amniocentesis and 1-etoscops have risks associated with them. I hese risks, though proportionally small include miscarriage, perinatal Udine% (foot abnormality) and respiratory distress.
Many (, (ilholic, indeed Christian. doctors and nurses are seriously concerned at the very strong 'conveyor hell' link between pre-natal screening and abortion.
"I believe that the parents should he given all the facts," Dr McGlone told the Herald. "I am opposed to them being led selective data which more or less steers them towards all abortion. In the final a in a Is sis the decision must lie \still the patient, but in possession of the truth of the situation.
"I his really is at dilemma because mans people helle)e that because something is legal it is also right. The don't stop to consider that it could he morall) wrong."