New test shows health of fetus - ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, Sports

A new test makes it much easier to determine the health of an unborn child.  It could also eventually raise ethical questions.

Researchers simply take blood samples from the mother do a genetic sequence test.  The test is done in the first trimester, leaving enough time to detect and possibly treat diseases during pregnancy.

The big ethical question, however, will come with the new round of technology expected in a couple of years.  Then doctors will be able to determine the complete genetic sequence of the unborn child.

That could lean to more prospective parents considering terminating pregnancies.