Ethical Considerations in Screening and Ultrasound Diagnosis of Fetal Heart Defects

Congenital heart defects take an important place in fetal pathology, due to their highest death percentage reported by WHO (World Health Organisation). The ethical issues that obstetricians deal with in case of an isolated fetal heart abnormality are multiple. The obstetrician is most of the time overwhelmed by the real possibility of making a fetal or neonatal prognosis. The lack of complete and correct information of the couple raises its expectations for the new born without knowing the limits and possibilities of cardiology therapy or surgical cardiology. That is why medical ethics requires a detailed, individualized presentation to the couple of the possibilities of further therapy for the new born, which is a real benefit for the couple’s decision. In conclusion, the ethical issues raised by heart anomalies diagnosed in uterus are multiple, exceed the performance of the specialty of obstetrics and gynaecology. Sending these cases of suspected fetal heart abnormalities detected in the early pregnancy to centers specialized in in-utero diagnosis and neonatal heart therapy is a necessity. Key-words: heart defects, fetal, ethics, screening, ultrasound Corresponding author : Suciu Horatiu [email protected] * University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Tg. Mureș, Romania