The technology is a significant step toward standard comprehensive testing of babies in the womb for genetic defects — those that mark serious disorders as well as those indicating risk for such diseases as alcoholism and obesity. And it potentially provides a window into non-medical heritable traits, such as hair and eye colour, athletic prowess and IQ.

Rather than saving lives, pro-lifers see this prenatal testing as an enhanced "search and destroy" diagnostic tool that exponentially expands the genetic information available on unborn babies — so that parents may have up to 3,500 genetic possibilities to weigh into a decision about whether or not to have an abortion.

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In 2008 the Bioethics Council (now disbanded) carried out extensive consultation with New Zealanders on the question of prenatal testing. Among the findings released in its report to Government the Council members highlighted the pressure many couples experience upon receiving their test results to make very rapid decisions.

"All too often, whether overtly or covertly, termination of pregnancy is presented as the automatic option after a test result indicating a disorder. As a result parents feel pressure to terminate children with Down syndrome and other disabilities".

Right to Life New Zealand and a group of parents of children with Down syndrome are taking the New Zealand Government to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in an attempt to stop early screening for Down syndrome during pregnancy.

Right to life spokesman Mr Orr told TV3 that the screening programme is "a search and destroy program which targets and discriminates against babies with Down syndrome".

In a society where disability is feared, certain groups of persons, such as those with Down syndrome, require additional protections in order to uphold their right to life, says John Kleinsman, Director of the New Zealand Catholic Bioethics Centre - The Nathaniel Centre.

"This pressure comes at a time when couples are already extremely vulnerable," says Mr Kleinsman. "It is of great concern that couples speak of encountering pressure from the health system to terminate a pregnancy on the basis of genetic test results".

"In this environment it will become increasingly difficult for couples to exercise a choice not to be tested or to continue with a pregnancy in the light of test results indicating a disorder. Our role, as parents, is to welcome our children in an unconditional way - this is what love demands".

John Kleinsman is the Director of the New Zealand Catholic Bioethics Centre - The Nathaniel Centre.

Source

• New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference
• Image: UNSW Embryology