Which statement best describes prenatal screening and consent considerations?

• A. To protect fetal and maternal health while addressing consent and stigma concerns
• B. To punish mothers
• C. To maximize data collection with no consent
• D. To test all pregnant women without consent

Answer: (A)

Prenatal screening and consent considerations center on informing a pregnant person about potential health information and ensuring they can decide freely whether to proceed, with attention to autonomy, privacy, and the impact of results on the individual and family. The best statement reflects both the health purpose of screening—protecting fetal and maternal health through appropriate testing and follow-up—and the ethical process of obtaining voluntary, informed consent while being mindful of stigma and social implications. In practice, this means offering clear, unbiased information, providing counseling to help understanding and choices, securing consent without coercion, and safeguarding confidentiality and support regardless of the decision made.

Choices that imply punishing mothers, collecting data without consent, or testing everyone without consent conflict with fundamental rights to autonomy and privacy and undermine trust in health care.