Ethics and Amniocentesis for Fetal Sex Identification

Abstract

Two types of parents request fetal sex identification by amniocentesis: the first group risk transmitting a sex-linked hereditary disorder and the second want to select the gender of their next child. Physicians generally encourage the first type of parent but discourage the second.Prenatal diagnosis for sex choice is controversial because of ethical objections to the use of abortion for such a reason and because of the question of whether amniocentesis, a scarce medical resource, can prudently be used for this purpose.¹ The issue is complex and involves many competing ethical claims.I have re-evaluated my position on this issue . . .