As thalassaemia is an autosomal recessive
genetic disorder, the risk of inheriting the disease
is a consideration requiring counselling and
antenatal screening. This can be an ethically
sensitive dilemma for midwives and the women
wanting to conceive and birth a healthy baby.
Early detection gives women the choice to
terminate pregnancies where fetal development
is severely compromised, reducing the transfer
of severe thalassaemia traits. This requires
midwives to communicate with sensitivity and
respect, as such decisions are life-changing for
women and their families.