[Fetal therapy. Ethical problems as a result of prenatal diagnosis]

If a severe hereditary disease is confirmed by prenatal diagnosis, often the only "therapy" available is the termination of pregnancy or induced abortion on the grounds of genetic or "foetal" indication, a "therapy" which is of course unsatisfactory. However, now a chance of prenatal intrauterine therapy seems to be offered via the innocuous imaging methods of diagnosis, such as sonography, echocardiography, and magnetic resonance. Ethical considerations on foetal include the following problems discussed in the present article: 1. What do we know on the basis of studies conducted to date on the risk/benefit ratio? 2. How is the moral and legal status of the foetus affected by the fact that the foetus is now accessible to medical treatment? 3. What are the implications of the fact that foetal therapy is now possible, in respect of the ethical and legal assessment of termination of pregnancy? 4. What are the problems arising for the doctor with regard to his rôle as a physician who has pledged himself to help mankind, if he starts treating the foetus? 5. What are the possible implications and effects of foetal therapeutic practice on the problems of research on and with foetuses?