Ethical aspects of the changing landscape for spinal muscular atrophy management in Australia.

BACKGROUND

New methods of detecting and treating spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are now available, and the Australian SMA landscape is rapidly changing. These various interventions can be increasingly complex to navigate for both healthcare professionals and at-risk families.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this article is to describe how recent developments in SMA testing and treatment give rise to ethical considerations.

DISCUSSION: Ethical issues in SMA detection and treatment arise for both individual interventions and how they integrate. A patient-centred approach can help general practitioners to navigate these issues.