Prenatally diagnosed fetal conditions in the age of fetal care: does who counsels matter?

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We sought to characterize practices and attitudes of maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) and fetal care pediatric (FCP) specialists regarding fetal abnormalities. STUDY DESIGN: This was a self-administered survey of 434 MFMs and FCPs (response rate MFM 60.9%; FCP 54.2%). RESULTS: For Down syndrome (DS), congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), spina bifida MFMs were more likely than FCPs to support termination (DS 52% vs 35%, P < .001; CDH 49% vs 36%, P < .001; spina bifida 54% vs 35%, P < .001), and consider offering termination options as highly important (DS 90% vs 70%, P < .001; CDH 88% vs 69%, P < .001; spina bifida 88% vs 70%, P < .001). For DS only, MFMs were less likely than FCPs to think that pediatric specialist consultation should be offered prior to a decision regarding termination (54% vs 75%, P < .001). MFMs reported report higher termination rates among patients only for DS (DS 51% vs 21%, P < .001). CONCLUSION: MFM and FCP specialists' counseling attitudes differ for fetal abnormalities.