❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks clarification on reviews of cases involving significant foetal abnormalities, including definitions and specific conditions considered. The answer provides general information but withholds specific data to protect patient privacy.
AnsweredQoN 181Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to: (a) the Minister's corrected answer to my question without notice on 25 June 2013 in which the Minister tabled a copy of a letter by the Acting Director General of the Department of Health to the State Coroner of Western Australia, dated 6 August 2012; and (b) the Minister's answer to my subsequent question without notice on 26 June 2013 in which the Minister advised that two reviews were undertaken, the original review in September 2011 and a further review in July 2012, and I ask: (i) which review was the Acting Director General referring to when he informed the Coroner, in the second paragraph of the letter, of "a review"; (ii) which review was the Acting Director General referring to when he informed the Coroner, in the final paragraph of the letter, of "the Review"; (iii) for the purposes of the original review of September 2011 and the further review of July 2012 how was the term "significant foetal abnormalities" defined; (iv) in how many of the reviewed cases was there only a single significant foetal abnormality present that was incompatible with life; (v) in how many of the reviewed cases were there multiple significant foetal abnormalities present that were incompatible with life; (vi) for the purposes of the review, and irrespective of whether it was found in any of the cases, was trisomy 21 considered a significant foetal abnormality; (vii) further to (vi) above, was spina bifida considered a significant foetal abnormality; (viii) further to (vi) above, was either cleft palate or cleft lip considered a significant foetal abnormality; and (ix) further to (vi) above, was dwarfism considered a significant foetal abnormality?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 September 2013
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
75 days
(i)-(ii) September 2011.
(iii) All cases are reviewed and the determination of 'significant foetal abnormalities' is made by senior clinicians and then further assessed by the ministerial panel. Each case is assessed on individual and particular facts and as such, there is no standard definition of a significant foetal abnormality. In general, a severe medical condition in the infant could include severe congenital malformations principally of the central nervous system, such as neural tube defects which may include the brain, cardio thoracic malformations or genetic disorders.
(iv)-(ix) See answer (iii) above. Due to the small number involved, this data cannot be provided as it could potentially lead to the identification of the patients involved and loss of privacy and confidentiality.
(iii) All cases are reviewed and the determination of 'significant foetal abnormalities' is made by senior clinicians and then further assessed by the ministerial panel. Each case is assessed on individual and particular facts and as such, there is no standard definition of a significant foetal abnormality. In general, a severe medical condition in the infant could include severe congenital malformations principally of the central nervous system, such as neural tube defects which may include the brain, cardio thoracic malformations or genetic disorders.
(iv)-(ix) See answer (iii) above. Due to the small number involved, this data cannot be provided as it could potentially lead to the identification of the patients involved and loss of privacy and confidentiality.
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