Pregnancy and neonatal screening in Austria

In Austria neonatal mortality remains higher than in comparable industrial countries. For this reason the Austrian Academy of Sciences published a study (K?ck Ch., Kytir J., Münz R.: Risiko Süglingstod, Pl?doyer für eine gesundheitspolitische Reform, Franz Deuticke, Wien 1988) comprising a historical review, an analysis of the present situation and proposals for improvement of the public health care programmes for pregnant women, mothers and neonates. Furthermore, current Austrian health policy is criticized on the basis of two concrete examples (the neonatal mass screening programme for inherited metabolic diseases and compulsory ultrasound screening in pregnancy). However, the authors reach their conclusions from incompletely cited and subjectively (partly falsely) interpreted scientific literature, with misleading consequences. Reviewing the literature in a more complete way, we wish to point out the superficial character of the research carried out by the authors. This kind of work should not serve as a basis for decisions in public health policy.