Etzioni A
J Med Ethics. 1976 Mar;2(1):8-11.
Amniocentesis, a procedure which can detect during pregnancy whether or not the fetus will develop into a mongol or one affected by other serious chromosomal defects, if given to all pregnant women aged 40 and over, would save both human suffering and economic loss to the community. The procedure is not at present widely used for various reasons, not all of them medical, and, if the test result is positive abortion is the remedy. The author describes an important clinical trial being conducted in the USA at the present time but suggests that an educational programme should be undertaken to inform the public of the existence of this procedure and its applications even before the results of the American large-scale trial can be known and evaluated. Amniocentesis and its use, Professor Etzioni concludes, is not the only genetic tool which should be reviewed in a manner which would give an overall picture. He compares those who are concerned with these matters to the citizens of Britain when they saw the first steam engine. They did not perceive the social changes--the industrial revolution--that would follow. In our time a 'genetic revolution' may not be long delayed.
羊膜穿刺术是一种在孕期能够检测胎儿是否会患唐氏综合征或其他严重染色体缺陷的方法。如果对所有40岁及以上的孕妇进行该检测，将既能减轻人类的痛苦，又能为社会节省经济损失。目前，由于各种原因，该检测方法并未广泛应用，其中并非所有原因都与医学相关。而且，如果检测结果呈阳性，补救措施是堕胎。作者描述了目前在美国正在进行的一项重要临床试验，但建议在得知并评估美国大规模试验结果之前，就应开展一项教育计划，向公众宣传该检测方法的存在及其应用。埃齐奥尼教授总结道，羊膜穿刺术及其应用并非唯一需要从能给出全面情况的角度进行审视的基因检测手段。他将关注这些问题的人与看到第一台蒸汽机时的英国公民作比较。他们当时并未察觉到随后会发生的社会变革——工业革命。在我们这个时代，“基因革命”可能也为时不远了。
