Nondirectiveness in Prenatal Genetics: patients read between the lines

For decades questionnaires have been used to measure the cognitive and psychological effects of prenatal genetic testing, but little is known about why some women undergo testing and others decline. Research indicates that many factors influence decision making, including values and beliefs. What is...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Anderson, Gwen (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Sage 1999
In: Nursing ethics
Year: 1999, Volume: 6, Issue: 2, Pages: 126-136
Further subjects:B prenatal genetic testing
B genetic counselling
B Ethics
B nondirectiveness
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:For decades questionnaires have been used to measure the cognitive and psychological effects of prenatal genetic testing, but little is known about why some women undergo testing and others decline. Research indicates that many factors influence decision making, including values and beliefs. What is often denied rather than recognized is that the professional and personal values and beliefs held by the health care provider influence the patient’s decision. It is assumed that, if genetic services are delivered in a nondirective manner, patients will not be affected by the provider’s personal and professional standpoint. The qualitative research data reported here challenge this assumption. Getting to know patients’ moral understanding and patterns of ethical reasoning by listening to their personal stories is recommended as a better way for nurses to help patients to make informed and autonomous decisions about prenatal genetic screening or diagnostic tests.
ISSN:1477-0989
Contains:Enthalten in: Nursing ethics
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/096973309900600205