Improved PND (prenatal diagnostics) "to reduce late-stage abortions":
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The German society for gynaecology and birth assistance (DGGG) last week came out in support of the use of prenatal diagnostics (PND). DGGG president Professor Hans Georg Bender said that in 2001 there were 177 late stage pregnancy terminations in Germany compared with 154 in 2000 and many of them may not have been medically necessary. "We don't want abortions for healthy children, but if a child's illness is life-threatening either to itself or the mother, then exceptions should be made," he said. Professor Bender added that research showed that in many cases improved PND would allow for an early decision as to whether to terminate a pregnancy. In 1995 a judgement the federal constitutional court made it compulsory to investigate the reasons for abortions and the DGGG carries this out.