[Organization of prenatal diagnosis of genetic defects]

The prenatal detection of genetic defects can make concrete predictions on definite diseases that are to be expected. In the indication catalogue of the prenatal diagnosis from the amniotic fluid the chromosomal anomalies are predominant. The basis and the potential consequences of the prenatal diagnosis are surgical treatments and highly differentiated methods which may have consequences on the fetus and on the pregnant woman. Therefore the structure of a prenatal diagnostics centre must to a great extent observe the "Nihil nocere". The most important functions in the prenatal diagnostics are incumbent on the surgical gynaecologist. His duties are the indication and the carrying-out of the surgical treatments and measures for the prenatal diagnostics under consideration of the risks existing. The gynaecologist has either further to care for the pregnancy as a risk pregnancy or at corresponding indication to interrupt it even after the 12th week of pregnancy. On these grounds it is recommended to build up a prenatal diagnostic centre in a gynaecological hospital.