Advancements in science have allowed us to have greater information regarding the many diseases and disorders that have the potential to afflict us; such is the case with genetic testing. Genetic testing allows providers to screen individuals for changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins and either confirm or rule out a suspected genetic condition (National Institute of Health [NIH], 2018). Although we now have the ability to test for thousands of genetic disorders, does not mean that we should test for these disorders. There are many instances, especially in regards to the unborn and adolescent children, where we must consider the legal, ethical, and social implications for doing so.
At first glance, it may seem reasonable to provide genetic testing to those individuals who would like to know whether they,
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As with all of our actions in nursing, and the health care profession, we must also consider the many implications our actions may have. “Providers who receive requests for genetic testing in children must weigh the interests of children and those of their parents and families” (American Society of Human Genetics Board of Directors, & American College of Medical Genetics Board of Directors, 1995). One must consider the many ethical considerations of genetic testing in children and adolescents. Testing should be carried out only if there is a timely medical benefit toward preventative measures. For example, it may not be prudent to test a young child for early onset Alzheimer’s. Although the disease strikes young, it typically does not affect one until adulthood when the subject can then make their own decision whether they would like to know if they carry the gene. Likewise, there are many legal implications surrounding genetic testing. If a parent chooses to have their child tested for Huntington’s disease and find they are a carrier, this could affect the child’s ability to obtain life insurance in the future. Whether counseling a parent,
Copeland’s purpose to inform, as well as engage or entertain, is developed through the structure of the article. Specifically, the structure of Copeland’s article consists of a personal story and other examples, along with statistical data. Copeland wants her readers to understand how DNA testing can be an emotional process, having positive outcomes for many families and yet also causing potential burdens for
Through DNA testing we can now see which diseases we will likely pass down to our children. Although this ability can be life-saving in the aspect it can be used to prevent diseases in children, it also can affect the parents’ desires
It is never ethical for patients to be intimidated or forced into undergoing certain testing. I believe it is the patient’s decision whether to undergo genetic testing and be informed of the results. In my opinion, a lack of genetic counselors compromises the ethics of genetic testing as patients are more vulnerable to being pressured into doing tests or receiving results they never wished to receive. Therefore, I believe genetic testing is done in a more ethical way when genetic counselors are available as counselors operate by listening to patient requests, only providing information of testing he/she wishes to undergo, and only presenting and helping patients understand the requested results. Even the author of Proverbs 11:14 (English Standard Version) points out the ethical importance of counselors by declaring, “[w]here there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”
Clinical trials have been a boon to modern medicine by broadening the knowledge surrounding disease plaguing the human race and providing a tangible measure of the success and symptoms of treatments to combat these diseases. However each progression in science comes with unintended consequences, in the case of clinical trials it was corruption at the expense of the human volunteers. The Tuskegee Study, conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service and Tuskegee Institute in 1932, is an infamous example of clinical trials crossing the ethical line. However what is ethics? As noted by The Basics of Social Research by Earl Babbie, ethics are a social construction and subjective.
There have been multiple “designer baby” procedures in order to fix diseases or to create a child that is a specific copy of a deceased sibling. Many have heard of the book My Sister's Keeper, which later became a movie. There have been multiple accounts where families have edited their unborn child's DNA in order to provide copies what their sick child needs. In one case parents of Britain’s first “designer baby” projected an attack on the critics of these procedures. This Whitaker’s had a four year old child, Charlie, who suffered from Anaemia.
“Genetic Testing and Secrets” In the article “Secrets of the Grave” it talks about how genetic testing can raise questions relating to the ethical way of getting genetic information and other questions relating to those they are testing. It can also lead to the use of and collection of questionable products such as jewelry with a famous persons DNA in it. This has lead policymakers to start to question the ethics of Biohistory, meaning whether a relative should be asked if genetic testing is ok or if the products being sold are appropriate. Scientist can use Biohistory which is the combination of biological testing and history.
For example, this would have not been able to occur without testing patients and finding certain similar alterations in different DNA samples. It is also how they discovered that seventeen genes lead to colon cancer (Weintraub Arlene). There are still many undiagnosed variations of genes out there, and genetic testing could help find more answers concerning
Be that as it may, others view these tests as immoral and should be illegal universally. So much so that there are animal activists who protest against the use of animal testing for cosmetics. Similarly, an organization
In this time and age, countless advances in technology have been made, including ones that respond to Regan’s point. These modern methods include sophisticated tests using human cells and tissues, advanced computer-modeling techniques, and studies with human volunteers. These may even lead to more accurate results. I argue that animal testing is wasteful because it prolongs the suffering of humans waiting for results of misleading experiments. Not all tests done to animals apply to humans, for our genetic makeup and composition differ from each other.
If we were able to make our children smarter, better looking, or more athletic, should we? Amy Sterling Casil had that exact scenario in mind when she wrote her short story, Perfect Stranger in 2006. Written in the first-person narrative that takes place in the distant future, Casil weaves a terrifying story of genetic alteration to “fix” our children’s flaws. What harm can it cause if gene therapy is performed as an elective procedure rather than medical necessity? Gary and Carolyn, expecting parents, find out their little boy will need gene therapy while still in the womb if they hope to spare him from a fatal heart condition.
It’s a big concern since, many people don’t get genetic testing due to the fear of being denied insurance (Sales, 2017). Those who are at risk for genetic disorders also go to great lengths to get insurance (Sales, 2017). One person who did is, Sarah Dillon, she removed not only her breast but ovaries in hopes to get insurance, as she was at risk for a genetic mutation that caused breast and ovarian cancer (Sales, 2017). However, the GINA (Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act) prohibits employers and health insurance companies from denying jobs or coverage based on an individual's DNA (Wright, 2009). It’s now against the law to deny one insurance due to their DNA (Wright
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis is a technique used to detect genetic diseases or chromosomal abnormalities in early human embryos. PGD is ethically controversial because it the screening involves the termination of embryos based on their expected genetic makeup. Furthermore, it is controversial whether where the line is drawn between PGD for medical uses and non-medical uses. For example, it is used to detect cancer causing genes or precursors for Alzheimer's disease. Non-medical uses would be to detect intelligence, height, and gender selection.
Copeland carefully selects words in the introduction to emphasize an overall nonchalance in compiling such comprehensive information, “Over the past five years, as the price of DNA testing kits has dropped and their quality has improved, the phenomenon of ‘recreational genomics’ has taken off,” (Copeland). The use of “recreational” suggests the practice of gathering broad scientific information lacks gravity. In fact, the author contrasts the word with more levity with the use of “genomics”, a concrete science that affects the structure and function of genetic information. The dramatic usage indicates to the audience that users of DNA testing are incapable of understanding all possible consequences of accessible genetic testing. Traditions of past generations provide a foundation for the identity of future generations.
Early tests were introduced for diseases such as Tay-Sachs for those with a predisposing family history says Binns & Hsu. As we are gaining more information about tests, non-lethal conditions such as Downs Syndrome have been included (2002). There is a legitimate question regarding where the testing may stop or not. There may be testing for eye color soon. Minority groups might be selected out of the industrialized population if some tests were used particularly if the condition was not present in the parents such as deafness.
Medical Research has the potential to advance society and make life better for everyone in it. However, the ends cannot justify the means; the rights of the subjects of research cannot be violated no matter the possible benefit to mankind. Despite this, time and time again, it has been very easy for, at least allegedly well-meaning scientists to violate the rights of their research subjects because they wanted to help society as a whole. Such experiments were not performed in secret by a minority of scientists; they were often done “by respected investigators at leading medical institutions and were published in medical journals (Scandals and Tragedies 3). " It is vital that we understand the circumstances of these experiments and why they happened so