Balancing Autonomy and Disability Rights: Ethical Considerations in Prenatal Screening

Abstract: Prenatal screening has become a routine component of pregnancy care in the United States, with approximately 90% of pregnant women being offered, and 78% choosing to receive, some form of screening. These screenings provide valuable information that enhances women’s reproductive autonomy by enabling informed decision making about their bodies, pregnancies, and futures. This presentation explores the tension between two fundamental ethical perspectives: women’s fundamental right to autonomous reproductive choices and concerns raised by disability advocates regarding how certain screening practices may inadvertently perpetuate stigma around genetic differences. While prenatal screening empowers women with information to act according to their values, questions arise about screening for genetic conditions that result in livable conditions with no medical cure. This presentation explores the physician’s role in supporting autonomous decision-making through unbiased information delivery and comprehensive resource provision. Recommendations focus on approaches that respect and enhance women’s reproductive autonomy while addressing disability rights concerns through improved communication practices, expanded screening options, increased social support systems, and broader societal efforts to destigmatize disability.

Keywords: Prenatal screening, Reproductive Autonomy, Disability Rights