Consultation on the ethical issues raised by prenatal screening for trisomy 21, or Down syndrome, in Québec : Consultation sur les enjeux éthiques du dépistage prénatal de la trisomie 21, ou syndrome de Down, au Québec : rapport de consultation

The information should not only concern the medical aspects of the tests and an assessment of the risks, but also the experience of living with trisomy 21, abortion and bereavement. [...] The importance of the issue of prenatal screening for trisomy 21 for Québec's population was confirmed by the high rate of participation in the consultation and suggests that it is not only legitimate to hold such a consultation in Québec at this time, but imperative if the reflection on the subject is to take the prevailing values of Québec society into consideration. [...] However, despite the differences of opinion that arose throughout the process and the appeals for wisdom and courage reiterated on both sides, we have attempted to propose avenues that take into account the context and the age we live in, and which are action oriented, while emphasizing the pitfalls to be avoided and the reflections to be held as a society. [...] The results of the three main stages,namely, the call for papers and the hearings held with a number of stakeholders concerned by prenatal screening for trisomy 21, the online public consultation and the deliberations of the Commissioner's Consultation Forum, are reported consecutively. [...] Lastly, under section 18 of the Act respecting the Health and Welfare Commissioner, the Commissioner must confer with his Consultation Forum regarding any special mandate entrusted to the Commissioner by the Minister of Health and Social Services (see list of the members of the Consultation Forum in Appendix 1).