Genetic Testing And Information example essay topic

Genetic Testing And Individuals With Disabilities Some individuals within the disabilities community have stated that the use of genetic testing, which results in the abortion of fetuses with certain traits or dispositions, can be interpreted as a form of eugenics. Prenatal screening programs that prevent the occurrence of children being born do exist, as noted earlier in the state of California. "The success of the program is evaluated not in terms of information given to mothers but rather in terms of the number of children with handicaps who were not born. When number of births prevented is the measure of a public health intervention it is hard to say that anything other than negative eugenics fuels support for such programs" (Duster). Whether or not professionals within our society believe that we are moving away from the ideas of the early 20th century of "purifying our society", genetic testing and information is still being utilized for similar eugenics purposes today.

We could easily move further away from this idea by providing more information about individuals with disabilities to people within our community, especially prospective parents. Potential parents need more information on raising a child with a disability before they can make an informed decision about genetic testing and diagnosis. Also, genetic professionals must think about their own feelings and points of view on individuals with disabilities if they plan on assisting couples along the way. Genetic testing is not always the case of why people abort the fetus, they have a choice also; in many cases, the prognosis of a disability would not affect their decision one way or another. I believe that if an individual truly feels that they cannot handle the special needs of a child with or without disabilities, then it should be their choice to cease the pregnancy. Many people perceive bearing a child with a disability as a frightful situation, although the truth is that no one, other than the experienced, knows what it is like to bear a child with a disability.

Some people that I have spoken with say that it was the most enriching experience of their life, and that they would never change any of their choices concerning the birth of their child with a disability. It may be a difficult situation for a parent to give birth to a child with a genetic abnormality or disability which could involve pain through the pregnancy and afterwards. Although prenatal genetic testing is now available for parents to make their choice in advance, there is not enough genetic counseling done for patients, before or after the testing is completed. The risks and advantages of prenatal screening, along with what the results indicate, demand more than a brief appointment with a doctor. Most discussions among doctors and expected parents include a pragmatic analysis of the testing, the purpose of the testing, and the fact that it is totally voluntary. Discussions are rarely full of extensive or complete information.

"Genetic counseling is essential in aiding parents in making the decision about testing. This should be a formal counseling session, not merely a brief discussion in your doctor's office-the risks and benefits must be spelled out in detail" (Holbrook). There are many people, who are very close to me, that have had personal experiences with genetic testing. On August 16th, 1978, a beautiful baby girl, named Andrea, was born with Down syndrome.

During the pregnancy with Andrea, her mother questioned the doctor about any risks of her baby being born with any health complications, because she was at the age of thirty-four. The doctors saw no reason for any tests such as an Amniocentesis or CVS, although the tests would not have influenced her parents in any way to terminate the pregnancy. They were only inquiring for their own information and preparation. At Andrea's birth, her disability came as a complete surprise to her parents and the doctors as well. In fact, at first sight, the obstetrician did not recognize that Andrea was any different because she looked and responded like a typical, healthy baby. She was very active, not limp like most babies with Down syndrome, she was also crying and sucking like normal, and even scored a nine on her Apgar Scale Test.

It was not until she was seen by the pediatrician, who claimed that she was a "cretin", did they notice that she was different from the norm. Her parents continued to go back and forth between the obstetrician and pediatrician until they concluded the battle with a Karyotyping, which is a blood test to examine the fact that she may have Down syndrome. Finally a month after Andrea's birth, her parents were given the "bad news" from the doctor. Andrea's parents did not perceive this as bad news; they saw it as a way to continue on with their lives with their new bundle of joy. Many doctors nowadays, deliver the "bad news" to parents expecting them to be traumatized by the news, although, many parents are just pleased with the new addition to their family.

"Receiving diagnostic information can be made less stressful by professionals who are sensitive to the impact of this news on the family. Suggestions for professionals include using accurate, non stigmatizing language and showing acceptance of the child and optimism about his or her future" (Berry, Hardman, 154). Andrea is my sister. Two years after she was born, my mother became pregnant again, with me; the doctors stated that it was necessary that she be tested immediately to see if there would be any further complications. My mother did not see a reason for prenatal testing due to the fact that the results and information established would not affect her decision of bearing another child. Still, the tests were done.

The results came back stating that the baby was a "healthy female", which did not ensure that all was well for the reason that my mother, too, was a healthy female and the cells could have been maternal rather than fetal. Pressures to endure prenatal genetic testing are perpetually followed by subtle pressures or demands to abort in the occurrence of a positive diagnosis. While potential parents may have worked out what decisions they would make if the fetus were diagnosed with a disability, they may not be prepared for ambiguous diagnoses. "Most parents do not realize that one in a hundred amniocentesis procedures (and an even higher proportion of CVS tests) will yield a combination of normal and abnormal cells that make predictions of any kind very difficult.

Nor do most parents consider the possibility present with any medical tests, that results may be switched or misinterpreted" (Kristol). The decision whether to have prenatal tests must rely solely on the potential mother, regardless of the woman's age, reproductive history or disability status. All women must also be given the absolute right to continue, or cease a pregnancy after prenatal diagnosis, without the influence from professionals in the medical field or individuals within our society. Genetic testing could be utilized in a positive way, for instance, as an information source for prospective parents.

For example, if a couple learns that their child will be born with a particular disability or disorder, they can research and seek as much information as possible on that disability, so they can be prepared for what lies ahead in their future. Genetic testing is certainly a critical issue in our society that has many consequent implications. With genetic testing at a rise and advanced technology in the making, when will it stop? It is not difficult to foresee the day that parents will have the capabilities to genetically engineer their children with such attributes as intelligence, beauty, long life, and health, ruling out disabilities all together. "The hope of using science and medicine to create children who get the best possible start in their lives is very different from the forced use of medical and scientific knowledge to solve society's perceived ills by creating biologically superior populations or simply killing those deemed inferior" (Bioethics. net).

Hopefully we can move away from the eugenic decisions, and put more ethical consideration into genetic testing; therefore, this new technology could be put to good use for our future.