[Medical counselling in the context of prenatal diagnostics]

Counselling of patients is an essential part of medical treatment. Especially in prenatal diagnostics, a differentiated and professionally competent information before, during and after diagnosing is of great importance. In most of the cases examination is not indispensable to life for the pregnant woman; the results, however, can lead to dramatic decision conflicts. Therefore it is imperative to discuss importance and consequences of the possible results before diagnostics. Moreover, the medical counselling situation during pregnancy differs from other medical consultations by the fact that according to our legislation the pregnancy and thus the fetus' right to exist can be called into question in case of an existing (medical) indication. The basic principle of the counselling is to create a common communication basis during which an understandable and comprehensible interexchange is possible in order to make it possible to the pregnant to find an appropriate decision. Five case examples taken from medical practice demonstrate the complexity of ethical-moral and psychosocial aspects and therewith the special challenge of prenatal diagnostics in medical counselling.