Experiences of Mandarin-speaking and English-speaking women of undergoing non-invasive prenatal genetic screening

Chromosomal disorders arise from errors in cell division and many are detected during prenatal development. Prenatal genomic screening techniques involve invasive methods such as chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis. In this feature, current invasive techniques for genetic screening will be examined in relation to the development of non-invasive prenatal technology. As cell-free fetal DNA methods continue to develop and be integrated into clinical practice, there is an opportunity for improvement in the detection and reliability of the screening process. In clinic, there are disparities between clinicians and patients surrounding both understanding of the processes and the discussion on the technique limitations. Non-invasive methods are continually being improved for detecting genetic disorders through the use of cell-free fetal DNA, and with these advancements, these processes will become safe, cost-effective, and reliable for pregnant mothers when undergoing genetic screening and counselling.

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What do the new American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines mean for the provision of non-invasive prenatal genetic screening?

Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology ◽

10.1080/01443615.2017.1291597 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 37 (6) ◽

pp. 795-798 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Megan Allyse ◽

Myra J. Wick

Keyword(s):

Genetic Screening ◽

Medical Genetics ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Genetics And Genomics

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Psychiatric Neuroethics II

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198732372.013.31 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Walter Glannon

Keyword(s):

Effective Treatment ◽

Psychiatric Disorders ◽

Genetic Screening ◽

Ethical Issues ◽

Clinical Settings ◽

Intracranial Surgery ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Invasive Techniques ◽

The Brain

I discuss ethical issues relating to interventions other than intracranial surgery and psychopharmacology for psychiatric disorders. I question the distinction between “invasive” and “non-invasive” techniques applying electrical stimulation to the brain, arguing that this should be replaced by a distinction between more and less invasive techniques. I discuss electroconvulsive therapy (ECT); it can be a relatively safe and effective treatment for some patients with depression. I consider transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial current stimulation (tCS); the classification of these techniques as non-invasive may lead to underestimation of their risks. I discuss how placebos can justifiably be prescribed non-deceptively and even deceptively in clinical settings. An analysis of neurofeedback as the neuromodulating technique most likely to promote autonomy/control for some conditions follows. Finally, I examine biomarkers identified through genetic screening and neuroimaging; they might contribute to more accurate prediction and diagnosis, more effective treatment, and possibly prevention of psychiatric disorders.

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Testing Times: The Social Life of Non-invasive Prenatal Testing

Science Technology and Society ◽

10.1177/0971721820960262 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 097172182096026

Author(s):

Gareth M. Thomas ◽

Barbara Katz Rothman ◽

Heather Strange ◽

Joanna E. Latimer

Keyword(s):

Genetic Screening ◽

Social Life ◽

Diagnostic Testing ◽

Prenatal Testing ◽

Controversial Issues ◽

Genetic Condition ◽

Non Invasive ◽

The Social ◽

The Usa ◽

Down Syndrome Screening

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is a genomic technology used to predict the chance of a foetus having a genetic condition. Despite the immediacy of this technology’s integration into clinical practice, there is a dearth of evidence outlining how both patients and professionals experience NIPT on the ground. In this article, we draw upon our collective empirical research—specifically on earlier screening technologies (BKR), Down syndrome screening (GT), genetic screening/testing (JL) and NIPT (HS)—to outline the most pressing and often controversial issues which, we argue, remain unresolved and vital to consider regarding NIPT. We begin with a brief introduction to NIPT as a prenatal technology and the bodies of literature which unpack its ‘social life’. In what follows, BKR discusses NIPT within the context of her research on ‘the tentative pregnancy’ and diagnostic testing in the USA. In the following sections, GT, HS and JL identify different, but related, concerns with respect to NIPT, particularly around routinisation, commercialisation, choice, abortion, and configurations of disability and ‘normalcy’.

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