Introduction to Genetic Testing: Currently, genetic testing is a voluntary test. It is taken to identify the presence of a gene that causes disease or to identify mutations that can lead to a disease. Chromosomes, proteins, and genes are tested through several different methods, including molecular, chromosomal, and biochemical methods. Some have argued that it should be required for all babies. On one day in 1993, every child born that day in the state of Pennsylvania was tested for several diseases, including muscular dystrophy, which could lead to death early in life. A panel of geneticists, lawyers, genetic counselors, pediatricians, and ethicists all were asked their opinion on this, and they recommended that this mandatory screening should be avoided since there was hardly any …show more content…
He claims,''Insurance companies should have access to the results of tests when people come to them voluntarily for coverage.'' Raymond then goes on to reason, stating that since most people get insurance coverage through their employers, it only affects a small amount of their clients. Questions Raised: While analyzing this topic, the following new questions arose: If a woman gets pregnant before having this test and then find out about the disease or genes that can cause disease which they will be passing on to their child, could it lead to abortion? If this happens to a significant amount of couples, could this raise abortion rates? Although these questions raise questions that lead to negative outcomes, there are also positive outcomes. Knowing these genetics could potentially lead to more research in new medicines because so it will normalize the study of genetics in the medical field.
Therefore, genetic counselors keep genetic testing ethical by devoting
Though these tests may be considered unethical, it is close minded thinking. Tests have to be conducted on people to provide correct information to help individuals everywhere. Whether it be injecting a child with pus, exposing the human body to different conditions, or making vaccines to incurable diseases, it has aided individuals for a better future. These tests have provided pills, shots, and a better understanding of the human body. Human experimentation has widely impacted the lives of those who are living to this
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.
Studies are now beginning to address this question”(Genetic Inequality Par.4). This demonstrates that there have been improvements in the genetic test that can be taken due to genetic
DNA was the only thing that contributed to a little girl's death one friday night, when she collapsed from a heart attack suddenly. The doctor said it was simply in her genes, but what does that really mean? Certain mutations and differences can transpire in someone's genes which causes particular genetic diseases and variances to occur. By taking samples of a person's DNA, which is what our genes consist of, doctors can determine mutations in genes that can impact specific traits and illnesses. While this is very intriguing to me, I wanted to understand how accurate genetic testing is, and how it affects people's everyday lives.
After reading the articles,”Why We Should Think Twice About Giving Genetic Tests to Our Kids” ,by Michael White, and “Genetic Testing for Kids:Is It a Good Idea?”, by Bonnie Rochman, parents should not give these tests to their children. If the children did take the test the result would outway the benefits, they would have anxiety, and the testing doesn’t always work. One main reason that a child should not the test is ,they could have anxiety for the rest of their lives. If a child took the genetic test they could learn they have a deadly disease they don’t know about yet.
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.
Regardless of the improvements that have been made there is still a risk of miscarriages as a result. This risk factors can be contributed to the invasiveness of the procedure as well as the time during the pregnancy at which it is performed. The later the genetic testing is performed, the more developed the unborn child is and the later the possible abortion would take place. The two most common forms of testing are ¨amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling¨ (Rebouché and Rothenberg 989). Both of these tests ¨[require] extracting cells from the fetus in utero, either through the mother 's abdomen or vagina¨ (Rebouché and Rothenberg 989).
Gattaca shows many times that genetic testing can be beneficial and has completely taken over society but at the same time provides many hardships like discrimination against certain ranks of
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
1. Did you effectively research and debate your topic? Why or why not? Yes, I do believe that I effectively researched and debated my topic on mandatory genetic testing for athletes.
There is a strong need of patient understanding, consent and respect for confidentiality, especially if a genetic test on an affected patient is being performed. Ultimately, the decision to be tested should be the decision of the individual, autonomously, and in the case of an unborn child or an infant who has no maturity the final decision should solely be up to the parents or legal guardians, taking to consideration advice from health professionals (National Health and Medical Research Council [NHMRC], 2010). If an individual should go ahead with a screening, there should be a strict confidentiality whereby the privacy of the patient should be protected by the health
Many people every year are charged with crimes they didn’t commit, whether they pleaded guilty or eye-witnesses claimed and testified in court that the defendant committed the crime. Before DNA testing in 1989, there was an error rate of 6% and now that rate has dropped tremendously because we focus less on the stories witnesses claim to be true and focus more on hard evidence. Between 1989 and 2003, there was estimated to be 340 people wrongly convicted and over the years investigators found that 4,000 people were convicted for crimes they did not commit.
A genetic test can reveal that a person who is otherwise healthy has a higher risk at some point in the future of beingunable to work, or requiring extensive medical care, or otherwise being more predisposed to an adverse state of health. In turn, this information could be used to affect decisions regarding employment and insurance. Some companies have used genetic screening and/or genetic monitoring of employees and job applicants for research and other undisclosed purposesCertain countries require genetic tests to verify biological relationships amongst family members for immigration purposes. But employers and governments are not the only ones that use genetic information. Insurance companies are alsointerested in knowing who is more likely