Baby Bias

A recent study has shown that some doctors are making varied recommendations to their pregnant patients based upon the method of conception. If women underwent assisted reproductive technological (ART) conception, the doctors were less likely to recommend that certain tests be conducted on the baby. Women who become pregnant over the age of 35 are often more likely to have their babies tested for Down’s Syndrome and other disorders/diseases, but women of this age group who did not conceive naturally were not as highly referred to these tests.

These invasive procedures could put the baby at risk, so I can understand how parents who had difficulty with fertility would be uneasy with these procedures. I can’t understand, however, why doctors would not recommend these procedures. As a doctor, why wouldn’t you recommend such routine tests and just make sure the parents are well aware of the risks involved, then let them make that decision? Some of these tests are so routine now that there isn’t even an age range in which they limit the testing to. To me, this seems as though the physicians are letting emotional or psychological factors influence their job. Like I said, I understand the parents’ being uneasy, but why wouldn’t the doctor want to educate their patients to the best of their abilities?

While the results of the tests and how the parents choose to face such results are negligible for my argument, I want to know how you would feel if you were a patient. Regardless of what the tests tell you, would you still want your doctor to recommend such tests if you had conceived via ART instead of naturally? Guys, you include your input too! Just because you don’t carry the baby, it doesn’t mean you can’t have a say-so. (At least for the sake of this blog!)