Question

Shyam and Radha are expecting their first child with Radha being in her second month of pregnancy with no complications. Shyam’s family has a history of cystic fibrosis while Radha’s family has a history of Down’s syndrome, leading to a concern that the baby may have one of these conditions.

1. Suggest and explain a way of testing if their baby is at risk for any genetic disorders.
2. In case of presence of one or both of the abnormalities and posing a risk to the mother’s health, mention one possible option for them to consider. Is that option safe for Radha at the current gestational age? Justify.
3. Under what conditions is the process mentioned in (b) illegal?

Answer 1

1. Amniocentesis is one way to check for genetic abnormalities in the fetus. A tiny amount of amniotic fluid is taken from the mother’s uterus using a tiny needle during this prenatal diagnostic procedure. The fluid contains fetal cells that can be examined for genetic mutations causing cystic fibrosis or chromosomal disorders like Down syndrome. Usually, this test is conducted between weeks 15 and 20 of pregnancy.
2. Medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) may be an option if the fetus is found to have serious genetic abnormalities that could endanger Radha’s health or the baby’s survival. However, under India’s Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, Radha can legally and medically terminate her pregnancy since she is in her second month, or roughly eight weeks. When carried out under medical supervision, MTP at eight weeks of pregnancy is typically regarded as safe for the mother; hence, Radha is safe. Medication (medical abortion) or a modest surgical procedure is typically used for early-stage abortions (up to 9 weeks).
3. The process of medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) is illegal if:
   1. There is sex-selective abortion, which is prohibited in India by the PCPNDT Act.
   2. The mother’s pregnancy is not life-threatening now that it is 24 weeks along.
   3. The mother’s informed consent is not obtained before the abortion is performed.
   4. The termination is sought for non-medical reasons, and there is no significant harm to the mother or fetus from the pregnancy.
   5. It is carried out outside of a licensed medical establishment or by an unauthorized individual.