Fatal fetal anomalies

Approximately 2% of pregnancies are diagnosed with a congenital anomaly each year. A proportion of these anomalies will be lethal or fatal, and congenital anomalies remain the leading cause of fetal death and child mortality.

The term fatal fetal anomaly (FFA) is used to describe anomalies that will lead to fetal or neonatal death and is used interchangeably with lethal and life-limiting terms. While FFA is not a medical term, it gained popularity in Ireland during its use in the political campaigns to repeal the Eighth Amendment of the Irish Constitution.

The Eight Amendment prevented termination of pregnancy for FFA in Ireland prior to repeal and the subsequent enactment of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act, 2018, legalised termination of pregnancy in Ireland for the first time. Following confirmation of a FFA prenatally, parents are faced with decisions concerning the remainder of the pregnancy, giving birth and seeing their new-born baby, or choosing termination of pregnancy.

Our research in this area

• Incidence of fetal anomalies
• Lived experiences of pregnancy with major fetal anomalies
• Perinatal palliative care
• Policy discourse
• Prenatal screening for fetal anomaly and aneuploidy
• Public awareness of fetal anomalies
• Termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly
• Ultrasound scanning for fetal anomaly

Related policy briefs

• Experiences of pregnancy with major fetal anomalies

Our people

• Professor Keelin O’Donoghue
• Peter Jackson
• Dr Kristin Kelly
• Dr Sarah Kennedy
• Dr Hadas Miremberg
• Dr Caoimhe Ni hÉalaithe
• Dr Daniel Nuzum
• Orla O’Connell 
• Dr Stacey Power Walsh