Prenatal Genetic Screening, Epistemic Justice, and Reproductive Autonomy

Hypatia 36 (1):1-21 (2021)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Noninvasive prenatal testing promises to enhance women's reproductive autonomy by providing genetic information about the fetus, especially in the detection of genetic impairments like Down syndrome. In practice, however, NIPT provides opportunities for intensified manipulation and control over women's reproductive decisions. Applying Miranda Fricker's concept of epistemic injustice to prenatal screening, this article analyzes how medical professionals impair reproductive decision-making by perpetuating testimonial injustice. They do so by discrediting positive parental testimony about what it is like to raise a child with DS. We argue that this testimonial injustice constitutes a twofold harm: people with DS and their family members who claim that parenting a child with DS may be a rewarding and joyous experience are harmed when they are systematically silenced, disbelieved, and/or denied epistemic credibility by medical professionals, and pregnant women are harmed since they might make poorly informed choices without access to all relevant information. The broader implication of the analysis is that epistemic justice is a precondition of reproductive autonomy. We conclude by calling for federal oversight of the acquisition and dissemination of information that prospective parents receive following a positive diagnosis of DS to ensure that it is comprehensive and up to date.

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,221

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Qualifying choice: ethical reflection on the scope of prenatal screening.Greg Stapleton - 2017 - Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy 20 (2):195-205.
A new era in prenatal testing: are we prepared? [REVIEW]Dagmar Schmitz - 2013 - Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy 16 (3):357-364.

Analytics

Added to PP
2021-01-26

Downloads
47 (#297,283)

6 months
11 (#127,802)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Citations of this work

The limitations of liberal reproductive autonomy.J. Y. Lee - 2022 - Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy 25 (3):523-529.

Add more citations

References found in this work

Trusting experts and epistemic humility in disability.Anita Ho - 2011 - International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics 4 (2):102-123.
The individualist model of autonomy and the challenge of disability.Anita Ho - 2008 - Journal of Bioethical Inquiry 5 (2-3):193-207.
Autonomy and Intervention: Parentalism in the Caring Life.John Kultgen - 1998 - Philosophical Quarterly 48 (190):112-113.

View all 9 references / Add more references