ABSTRACT
The number of women conceiving 3 or more foetuses has increased dramatically as a result of successful infertility therapy with ovulation-inducing agents and assisted reproductive technology. Guido de Wert has discussed in detail the ethics of multifetal pregnancy reduction and the widely accepted ‘principle of proportionality’. As a matter of fact the affected foetuses are destined for selective reduction, which means in Germany termination of the pregnancy after chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis. Balancing risks and benefits, this possibility might result in the least harm and the most benefit to the persons involved. A lot of couples treated with assisted reproductive technology have a feeling of ‘pregnancy on probation’, because a number of prenatal tests are recommended before the foetus is accepted as ‘good’. All professionals involved should try not to intensify this feeling. Because of the limited amount of experiences prenatal tests are excessively recommended.
