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A survey of health professionals’ views on acceptable gestational age and termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Lisa Crowe, Dr Ruth Graham, Professor Steve RobsonORCiD, Professor Judith Rankin

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND).


Abstract

© 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS Termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly is legal in the UK with no upper limit, if two doctors, in good faith, agree “there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped”. This is Clause E of the Human Fertlisation and Embryology Act. The most commonly sighted Clause is C, which states “the pregnancy has not exceeded its twenty-fourth week and that the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman”. This study aimed to investigate health professionals’ views on gestational age and acceptable termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly (TOPFA). We undertook a questionnaire survey of UK health professionals working in fetal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology and neonatology. A study pack consisting of a self-completion questionnaire, an invitation letter, participant information sheet, and a stamped addressed return envelope, were sent to health professionals. We used four fetal anomalies as case study examples in the questionnaire: isolated cleft lip, hypoplastic left heart, spina bifida and trisomy 21. These anomalies were chosen as they differed in terms of the type of anomaly, the type of impairment, and the perceived severity. Forty-one study packs were returned. For anomalies deemed less serious, later gestational ages were an important consideration when deciding acceptable TOPFA. The prognosis of an anomaly was considered an important factor in deciding whether a TOPFA was acceptable alongside gestational age. Clause C of the current UK legislation, which allows a legal termination prior to 24 weeks gestational age if continuing with the pregnancy would impact the mental health of the mother, was deemed a reasonable option for termination when parents are requesting a TOPFA. For each case study example, health professionals responded that TOPFA at ‘25 weeks and over’ was acceptable (cleft lip n = 1; hypoplastic left heart n = 19; spina bifida n = 13 and Trisomy 21 n = 10). Professionals also distinguished between their personal and professional views. These findings offer new insight into how gestational age considerations influence professionals’ conceptualisation of acceptable TOPFA.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Crowe L, Graham RH, Robson SC, Rankin J

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: European Journal of Medical Genetics

Year: 2018

Volume: 61

Issue: 9

Pages: 493-498

Print publication date: 01/09/2018

Online publication date: 16/05/2018

Acceptance date: 08/05/2018

Date deposited: 03/07/2018

ISSN (print): 1769-7212

ISSN (electronic): 1878-0849

Publisher: Elsevier Masson

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmg.2018.05.011

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2018.05.011


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
G0800128-3/1

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