Ethical challenges of new noninvasive prenatal testing

The introduction of new noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) questions the established normative framework in two respects and must be complemented by professional ethics. On the one hand, it will increasingly challenge the realization of reproductive autonomy. On the other hand, the focus of prenatal testing will more and more shift towards therapeutic intentions, which has consequences for the physician-patient interaction in the context of prenatal medicine. On a structural level, these developments have to be accompanied by increased efforts with respect to adequate training of the counselling physicians and independent and competent information for pregnant women and couples. In addition, financial barriers with regard to the access to NIPT should be removed. From a professional ethics perspective, the obligations of health care professionals towards the pregnant woman and the future child have to be reevaluated and translated into adequate clinical pathways.