Prenatal Screening for Chromosomal Conditions Including Down Syndrome: Practice Resource

Down Syndrome Queensland. (2022).
Endorsed by Through the Unexpected, RANZCOG and other organisations.

Parent-centred Communication in Obstetric Ultrasound: ASUM Guidelines

Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine. (2022).
Endorsed by Through the Unexpected and other organisations.

Clinical Practice Guidelines: Pregnancy Care

Department of Health. (2018). Canberra, Australia.

Effective Mental Health Care in the Perinatal Period: Clinical Practice Guideline

Centre of Perinatal Excellence. (2017).

Prenatal screening and diagnostic testing for fetal chromosomal and genetic conditions

This statement was originally developed in March 2015 by the HGSA/RANZCOG Joint Committee on Prenatal Diagnosis and Screening and approved by the Women’s Health Committee and RANZCOG Council. Review due: July 2021 or as required.

Statement on Genetic Carrier Screening

This statement has been developed and reviewed by the Genomics Advisory Working Group & Women’s Health Committee and approved by the RANZCOG Board and Council. Review due: March 2022

UK consensus guidelines for the delivery of unexpected news in obstetric ultrasound: The ASCKS framework

Johnson J, Arezina J, Tomlin L, Alt S, Arnold J, Bailey S, et al. (2020). Ultrasound. 

Paediatric Addendum: Palliative Care Service Development Guidelines

Guidelines to support the design and development of palliative care around Australia – inclusive of Perinatal Palliative Care. Developed by Palliative Care Australia in 2018.

Stillbirth Clinical Care Standard

Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (2022).

Sets the standard expectations regarding screening and diagnosis of congenital anomalies including:

• the use of clear and sensitive language in alignment with the ASUM Parent-centred Communication in Obstetric Ultrasound Guidelines,
• right to accept or decline screening and diagnostic tests or opt-out of particular results,
• verbal and written information should be provided following ultrasounds,
• all women should be offered access to an interpreter,
• if any concerns about the health or welfare of a fetus are identified, women should be referred for further investigation and care and should be provided access to information about how to access relevant support in the interim.

Women and families who experience the death or a baby or are told that their baby will not live long because of a life-limiting condition, should be offered care to support physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual wellbeing (p. 54).

The National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards 

Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.

“The primary aims of the NSQHS Standards are to protect the public from harm and to improve the quality of health service provision. The eight NSQHS Standards provide a nationally consistent statement about the level of care consumers can expect from health services.”

The NSQHS Standards represent the level of care consumers can expect from health service organisations. Specifically, we note:

• Health services should work in partnership with consumers,
• Systems should be in place to deliver comprehensive care that meets the individual needs of consumers, this includes mental health and wellbeing support.
• Systems should be in place to minimise harm,
• Health services processes should support effective communication with consumers that activity involves them in their care, meets their information needs and involves shared-decision making.