Bioethical Considerations of Diagnostic Placental Growth Factor Testing in Canada

There is strong clinical evidence to support the use of diagnostic placental growth factor testing in the second and third trimesters for early preeclampsia detection and growing evidence to support its use in the prediction/management of fetal growth restriction. However, as centres across the country move to adopt a national placental growth factor testing implementation strategy, there are important bioethical issues to consider. These include individual considerations relating to the bioethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice, as well as moral considerations involved in health technology assessment and epistemic bioethical concerns at the systems level. These relate to resource allocation, trade-offs, and cost-effectiveness, as well as risk management and practical considerations around informed consent, professional liability, and the physician-patient relationship.