The scientific and clinical development of fetal testing and therapy has obvious legal and ethical ramifications. The next logical step is the attempt to treat and cure unfavorable conditions before and after the birth of the child. The fetus and resulting child is a welcome addition to the lives of its parents, as well as a potential member of society. If something can be done to help a fetus in distress, as long as the method of therapy has been proven to yield positive results, it should by all means be done. The only other issue which needs to be addressed in the decision to proceed with fetal therapy is the the risk factor for the mother.
Prenatal therapy brings about an alternative to abortion.
With the advent of fetal therapy, however, the fetus has become a patient with certain legal rights and interests. There are laws that clearly define the duties of mothers and their doctors in using fetal therapy, imposing prenatal obligations of reasonable care for fetuses that are carried to term. As can be seen, this legal aspect of birth, with the infusion of the concept of fetus' rights, has further complicated the birthing process. The mother also has rights in regard to fetal therapy. The procedures of fetal therapy must pass through the body of the mother, and therefore a conflict arises between the right to prenatal care for the fetus and the right of the mother to full bodily integrity.