Cross-cultural perspectives on noninvasive prenatal testing

Following its introduction to the market in 2011, the rapid spread of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) was driven by commercial developers of the technology. The numerous benefits it offers are recognized by users and clinicians, but its introduction also raises several concerns regarding ethical, social, legal, and policy implications. This chapter describes the NIPT implementation in three countries: China, Canada, and Lebanon. These countries are selected since they represent a diversity of cultural frameworks and healthcare system structures. We discuss each country's healthcare system, NIPT offer and coverage, financial and organizational resources, and cultural and policy contexts with respect to disability and pregnancy termination. The comparison of these factors across the three countries illustrates how the implementation of NIPT is shaped by cultural values and socioeconomic contexts. It also reveals the importance of some key universal ethical requirements for the responsible implementation of NIPT in any cultural context.