Medical screening can be seen as medically specific strategy used on a given population with an unknown specific health status with the aim of detecting a particular disease.
The idea behind screening is that disease can be identified sooner so that mortality and morbidity can be reduced. Some screening tests, however, are contested to be unhelpful. There can be significant anxiety and over diagnosis when a screening test picks up too many false positives.
An amniocentesis is a type of prenatal test that involves inserting a needle through the mother's abdomen to collect a sample of amniotic fluid, and subsequently testing the amniotic fluid to examine the baby's chromosomes. It’s mostly recommended for mothers above 35
No doubts it has lots of advantages which include detection of structural chromosome abnormalities screening for Down syndrome, X-linked genetic disease such as haemophilia. Screen for Spinal Bifida and Haemolytic disease of the new born.
So if amniocentesis is just a test for chromosome disorders, why are people so concerned about it? One might wonder.
The amniocentesis test does not aim at curing any abnormalities but will only leave the women with the option of either to abort or have the baby. Studies had shown that 1 in 100 or 200 women tested positive end up having miscarriages due to intense psychological and emotional trauma. Many mothers resort to aborting the baby which is against their moral judgement.
On the other hand, Down syndrome is a condition that causes developmental and cognitive impairments. The test could be greatly opposed especially because the condition doesn't usually cause life-threatening health problems.
Though, the result is greatly important for prenatal care; but one may ask, is there no need to consider the mothers moral, emotional and psychological dispositions in playing around this test?
http://www.enotes.com/amniocentesis-reference/amniocentesis-171709
