Pilnick2004

From emcawiki
Jump to: navigation, search
Pilnick2004
BibType ARTICLE
Key Pilnick2004
Author(s) Alison Pilnick
Title “It's just one of the best tests that we've got at the moment”: informed choice in nuchal translucency screening for fetal abnormality
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, Medical EMCA, Conversation Analysis, Choices, Genetic Testing
Publisher
Year 2004
Language English
City
Month
Journal Discourse & Society
Volume 15
Number 4
Pages 451–465
URL Link
DOI 10.1177/0957926504043710
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

Download BibTex

Abstract

Much of the sociological research that has been carried out into antenatal screening has been highly critical of the practical implementation of these programmes, particularly regarding issues of choice. However, most of this research is based on interviews conducted with participants after screening has taken place. This article presents a preliminary exploration of the interactional presentation of a novel antenatal screening procedure, known as nuchal translucency (NT) screening, for Down’s syndrome. The data are analysed from a conversation analytic perspective, with a focus on the ways in which screening is introduced, explained and discussed by those involved. The issue of choice, and of the need to actively make a decision, are explicitly topicalized by midwives in these consultations. However, it is argued that the choice that is presented in this setting often appears to be between ‘old’ and ‘new’ screening practice, rather than a straightforward choice between screening and not screening.

Notes