Editor—The identification of theBRCA1 and BRCA2gene mutations in 1994 and 1995 respectively1 2 allowed detection of mutation carriers in families with autosomal dominant hereditary breast/ovarian cancer. Female mutation carriers have a risk of 56-87% of developing breast cancer and of 10-60% for ovarian cancer.3 The options are either frequent surveillance or prophylactic surgery. For male mutation carriers, cancer risks are only slightly increased. The offspring of mutation carriers have a 50% chance of inheriting the gene mutation. The possibility of prenatal genetic diagnosis for “late onset diseases”, such as hereditary breast/ovarian cancer, raises complex ethical questions.4 5 The present study addresses the question to what extent physicians and policy makers working in genetics or oncology may expect requests for prenatal diagnosis and termination of pregnancy because of carriership forBRCA1/BRCA2.

A questionnaire assessing attitudes towards termination of pregnancy if the fetus …