Opinions of gynaecologists on prenatal diagnostics in first/second trimester and abortion--ethical aspect

The aim of the study was the assessment of the influence of ethics or the lack of medical ethics on everyday gynaecological practice, particularly the usefulness and purpose of detecting genetic irregularities in the first and second trimester and abortions.

A sample of 164 gynaecological doctors was encompassed by the study. A questionnaire survey was applied as an independent empirical procedure on the basis of the theory of attitudes and the following questionnaires: WCQ (The Ways of Coping Questionnaire)--Folkman, Lazarus, Dukiel-Scheier & Weintraub, as the authors own adaptation of that instrument for the requirements of the study.

In response to the question on the purpose of performing prenatal diagnostics in detecting genetic irregularities in the first and second trimester--35% of physicians were against such diagnostics if it served abortion, 60% supported the test even if in consequence an abortion was carried out, whereas 5% had no stance on the matter. The problem of physicians' approach to abortion for so-called "social reasons" was also studied. Over half, as many as 51% of physicians were against abortion in any form whatsoever, including pharmacological abortions; 45% agreed to abortion and 4% had no opinion. The veracity of ethical motivations was also measured: approx. 4%, refrained from expressing their support of either position; 29% stated that a physician, although they do not perform abortions themselves, should indicate other possibilities of performing the abortion and as many as 67% thought that the indication of a place or a person who performs abortions is obvious.

The results of the survey indicate the differences in the attitudes of physicians towards the diagnosis of prenatal tests, especially the ones revealing genetic defects and lethal disease. There are two ambivalent patterns of behaviour: one group of physicians opt for delivering every child without any exceptions, but the other one is for destroying deformed foetuses.