Attitudes towards the new genetic and assisted reproductive technologies in Sri Lanka: A preliminary report

Discussions about the ethical and social impacts of the new reproductive and genetic technologies have tended to be dominated by concerns that have originated in European and North American societies. In this paper, we explore perspectives on these issues from a distinctively Asian perspective. Usin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:New genetics and society 2002-03, Vol.21 (1), p.65-74
Main Authors: Dissanayake, V. H. W, Simpson, R., Jayasekara, R. W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abortion
Amniocentesis
Attitudes
Bioethics
Counselling
Death Attitudes
Doctors
East and West
Genetic Testing
Genetics
Less developed countries
Medicine
Prenatal Testing
Questionnaires
Reproductive Technologies
Reproductive technology
Sri Lanka
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Summary:Discussions about the ethical and social impacts of the new reproductive and genetic technologies have tended to be dominated by concerns that have originated in European and North American societies. In this paper, we explore perspectives on these issues from a distinctively Asian perspective. Using a questionnaire-based descriptive study, we examined the attitudes of 36 Sri Lankan Medical Officers following a course preparing them for the Master of Surgery (Obstetrics and Gynaecology) Part I examination in Colombo. The survey highlights an extremely positive response to many aspects of the new technologies in contrast to the long-standing ambivalence towards prenatal diagnosis and the prospect of therapeutic termination. We end by discussing some of the ways in which ideas about re-birth and fate may influence the reception of the new technologies among some doctors.
ISSN:1463-6778
1469-9915
DOI:10.1080/14636770220122773