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John C. Fletcher, PhD

JAMA. 1981;246(7):772-773.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

Harrison and others, elsewhere in this issue of THE JOURNAL (p 774), point to a growing number of treatable congenital defects in the fetus. By my count there are 33 opportunities for treatment, mainly after induced or cesarean delivery. The authors cite seven opportunities for in utero treatment. Techniques of sonography, fetoscopy, amniocentesis, amniography, and fluid collection in the fetus are used in prenatal diagnosis of the defect. Treatments vary from an indirect mode through the mother to direct manipulation of the fetus, including surgery. The authors write that it "seems that the fetus with a treatable birth defect is on the threshold of becoming a patient."

What are the "complex ethical issues" raised by fetal therapy to which the authors refer? At first glance these issues will not be apparent because the facts reported here will be "good news" to most physicians and the public. I, too, rejoice in . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Md

Footnotes
Address editorial communications to the Editor, 535 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60610.

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