Question

Shyam and Radha are expecting their first child with Radha being in her second month of pregnancy with no complications. Shyam’s family has a history of cystic fibrosis while Radha’s family has a history of Down’s syndrome, leading to a concern that the baby may have one of these conditions.
(a) Suggest and explain a way of testing if their baby is at risk for any genetic disorders.
(b) In case of presence of one or both of the abnormalities and posing a risk to the mother’s health, mention one possible option for them to consider. Is that option safe for Radha at the current gestational age? Justify.
(c) Under what conditions is the process mentioned in (b) illegal?

Hint:

Prenatal diagnostic techniques should only be used for identifying serious genetic risks—not for sex determination, which is illegal under PCPNDT Act.

Answer 1

Step 1 (a): One way to test for genetic disorders in a developing fetus is through **amniocentesis** or **chorionic villus sampling (CVS)**. These are prenatal diagnostic techniques that help detect chromosomal or genetic abnormalities like Down’s syndrome and cystic fibrosis. Step 2 (b): If abnormalities are confirmed and they pose a severe risk to the fetus or the mother, **medical termination of pregnancy (MTP)** is an option.
Justification: MTP is considered safe during the first trimester (up to 12 weeks), and Radha is in her second month (around 8 weeks), which falls within this safe period. Step 3 (c): MTP becomes illegal if: \begin{itemize}
It is performed without the consent of the pregnant woman.
It is conducted after the legally permissible gestation period (currently 24 weeks in India) without appropriate medical board approval.
It is done for reasons such as sex selection, which is strictly prohibited. \end{itemize}