Things to know about the phenomenon `precious baby`

An international study proves that mothers who conceive with assisted reproductive technologies (ART) receive different prenatal testing, compared to mothers who conceive naturally. In this study, published in the scientific journal Human Reproduction, scientists are trying to prove that doctors also influenced by the `precious baby` phenomenon. According to Dr Yaniv Hanoch, Associate Professor in Psychology at Plymouth University and co-writer of the study, “some pregnancies are deemed by parents to be more valuable than others, particularly if conception has taken several courses of assisted reproductive treatment to achieve”. This study was released by Dr Hanoch, in collaboration with Dr Naama Srebnik and Dr Avi Tsafrir from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Hebrew University, situated in Jerusalem, Dr Talya Miron-Shatz from the Center for Medical Decision Making, Ono Academic College and Dr Jonathan J Rolison from the School of Psychology at Queen`s University, situated in Belfast. The final results prove that doctors are influenced by the `precious baby` phenomenon before knowing the nature of the parents` wishes.