Genetic Testing Ethics

M6D1

Ethics and Genetic Testing As we all can agree, our genes play a highly important role in making us who we are as humans. If the information produce by genes is normal than everything can turn out normal and infants can be born healthy. There are those incidents the genetic information produce by genes is wrong and results of this information can lead to injury, disease, and/or illness of the fetus (Munson, 2012). The ability to predict or diagnosis miss information produced by genes is called genetic testing. This testing can be done before conception, during pregnancy, and of the infant and parents after birth. So when is the best time to discuss this with parents? The sooner the better. According to Pillitteri (2014), nurses play a

Some people feel that all abortion is wrong, even those that are selective, and because they feel disease or illness is no reason to terminate a pregnancy. There are those that support selective abortion because they feel that terminating the pregnancy will avoid pain. Suffering and lifelong disabilities. According to Ellis and Hartley (2012), nurses have a right to refuse to participate in procedures that result in abortion or in the care of the woman wanting an abortion due to the nurse own personal and ethical beliefs. With this being said, the nurse has the ethical obligation to provide nonjudgmental care and care that is of high-quality when abortion is of an emergent nature regardless of their own personal beliefs and values (Callister, 2011). It is the nurse responsibility to notify their employers of these personal beliefs before the situation arises. As the issue of abortion is a highly debated area, nurses need to remember that it is the right of the patient (autonomy) to makes choices that is in the best interest of them and their child. As nurse, we have an obligation to these patients to be educated and ensure they are armed with correct information in order to make the best decision for them and their

According to Munson (2014), through genetic screening or testing, birth of infants with debilitating or crippling defects can be avoided. Also through testing, disease and illness could be eradicated because the gene that causes the disease or illness would not be passed on to the next generation. This is consider eugenics. Some in the medical field have a negative feeling towards this, as if to be playing God. There are others in the medical field on the extreme end feel that laws should be developed that couples with known genes that cause genetic disorders must not have children or if they do selection of embryos are done (Munson, 2014). Genetic testing is expensive and not all insurance cover specialized testing and many cannot afford out-of-pocket cost. Other issues considered is that if a child is born with a genetic disorder or illness, what strain could the lifelong treatment required by the child put on the finances of the family, their insurance, or would the child qualify for state and/or federal medical benefits. Advocates for genetic testing due to the increasing cost and strain on the health care system, the amount of money spent on tests to diagnosis or treat is much cheaper than that of money spent on the care of a child with disabilities (Munson, 2012). Considerations in regards to the future of an infant born with a genetic disease or illness with regards to issues as personal image, self-esteem, and the