Screening for inherited diseases: Should all couples be offered all tests?

Just imagine: You had testing in pregnancy to make sure everything was OK with the baby. You had Down syndrome screening and foetal ultrasounds. You even asked your obstetrician, “are there any other tests we could do to have a healthy baby?” You were told, "that’s it". Only that's not it.

Turns out, there's a test for spinal muscular atrophy. And your baby is born with SMA. You learn that you and your partner are carriers of the gene mutation that causes SMA. It doesn't change the love you have for your new baby, but why weren't you offered the test? To help us consider the ethics of this, John Massie is joined by Ainsley Newson, Professor of Bioethics, University of Sydney and Deputy Director at Sydney Health Ethics, Sydney School of Public Health.