Soziales: Bundestag will Monitoring von Bluttests bei Schwangeren

The Bundestag is urging the implementation of a monitoring system for blood tests conducted on pregnant women to check for Down syndrome in newborns. A cross-party group of MPs passed a motion, urging the federal government to introduce monitoring to gather more data. An expert panel will review the legal, ethical, and health policy foundations of the insurance-funded test.

The motion received 529 votes in favor, 18 against, and 23 abstentions. The initiators agreed with another group shortly before the debate, amending the motion to ensure pregnant women do not face difficulties accessing the insurance-funded test for a "justified medical indication." Blood tests for Down syndrome have been available on the public health system since 2022, provided certain conditions are met.

The tests involve drawing blood and conducting genetic analysis, making them less risky than previous amniocentesis procedures, which involved drawing amniotic fluid through the woman's abdominal wall. Down syndrome occurs when a person has three copies of chromosome 21 instead of the usual two, resulting in physical abnormalities and slowed motor, intellectual, and speech development, although the severity can vary greatly.