Down Syndrome Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Down Syndrome, including details on education, symptoms, treatment, information.

How prenatal diagnosis became acceptable in France.

Vassy C

INSERM, Centre de Recherche sur les Enjeux de Santé Publique, Université Paris 13, 74 rue M. Cachin, 93 017 Bobigny, France. carine.vassy@iname.com

Since the 1960s, prenatal diagnosis techniques have been developed in industrialized countries. There is no therapeutic treatment for most of the diagnosed foetuses and the only solution medicine can offer is abortion; therefore, the techniques might seem controversial. Here, I aim to explore why some prenatal diagnosis and screening techniques are widely used when pregnant women are often ambivalent about them. This article draws on previous sociological work, accounts of health practitioners and a case study of the diffusion of Down's Syndrome prenatal diagnosis in France. It argues that numerous factors, other than the demand of the users, can contribute to speed up the diffusion of a technique.

Published 3 May 2005 in Trends Biotechnol, 23(5): 246-9.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Down Syndrome Research Today. All Rights Reserved.