This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Atkins, C. G. K. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

The Choice of Two Mothers: Disability, Gender, Sexuality, and Prenatal Testing

University of Calgary

This article employs an autoethnographic method in describing and analyzing the moral dilemmas faced by two lesbian mothers when they contemplated prenatal, genetic testing options during two pregnancies. It focuses on the inconsistencies in their decision-making processes-that is, that these same parents opt to do amniocentesis for one pregnancy but choose not for another one fewer than 2 years later. The discussion highlights the influence that contextual factors have on the discrepancy in their reasoning and behavior. By critiquing both the mothers' rationales and clinicians' approaches to these procedures, the article seeks to show that the weakness of employing ethical and counseling paradigms and discussions in highly contextual, real-life situations.

Key Words: amniocentesis • autoethnography • bioethics • cytogenic testing • feminist ethics • nuchal translucency • prenatal testing

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?