Ethics at the Beginning of Life: Prenatal Genetic Testing
Ethics at the Beginning of Life: Prenatal Genetic Testing
Lauren Delucca
Linda Field Despain
Cynthia Ventura-Lippert
Submitted to Dr. Mark Jumper in partial fulfillment of
HCE430, Health Care Ethics
Regis University
October 13, 2012
Prenatal Genetic Testing
Prenatal testing and genetic testing developed hand in hand. Many genes, the basic unit of heredity, are now known through the human genome project (Pence, 2011, pp. 273-274). Genetic testing can identify the existence of genes that carry potentially life impacting and threatening conditions. However, prenatal genetic testing can determine much more than simply the abnormalities or negative factors. It can indicate sex, hair and eye color, temperament, strength, and other tendencies within the womb. The knowledge of these predispositions can be used to select embryos with certain characteristics. At worst prenatal genetic testing can be used to apply discriminatory selective tactics or a process known as eugenics. Because of this, prenatal genetic testing should be limited to testing for diseases, birth defects, chromosomal abnormalities, or genetic diseases and should be regulated to not allow abuse of screening for non-disease conditions, such as selection for sex and for eugenic purposes.
Comprehensive Description
Every parent-to-be anticipates a healthy baby, but it can be hard not to worry about the unknown. Genetics, “the study of… the way traits are passed down from one generation to another” (CDC, 2003, pp.1-8), is one way we try to assuage this fear. Fortunately, the application of diagnostic technologies in the form of prenatal genetic tests can help reassure and provide information throughout pregnancy. For the purpose of this paper, prenatal genetic testing is any investigation for a genetic disease or condition in an embryo, fetus, or baby before it is born, regardless of aim. The intention may be to detect birth defects, chromosomal abnormalities, or genetic
Lauren Delucca
Linda Field Despain
Cynthia Ventura-Lippert
Submitted to Dr. Mark Jumper in partial fulfillment of
HCE430, Health Care Ethics
Regis University
October 13, 2012
Prenatal Genetic Testing
Prenatal testing and genetic testing developed hand in hand. Many genes, the basic unit of heredity, are now known through the human genome project (Pence, 2011, pp. 273-274). Genetic testing can identify the existence of genes that carry potentially life impacting and threatening conditions. However, prenatal genetic testing can determine much more than simply the abnormalities or negative factors. It can indicate sex, hair and eye color, temperament, strength, and other tendencies within the womb. The knowledge of these predispositions can be used to select embryos with certain characteristics. At worst prenatal genetic testing can be used to apply discriminatory selective tactics or a process known as eugenics. Because of this, prenatal genetic testing should be limited to testing for diseases, birth defects, chromosomal abnormalities, or genetic diseases and should be regulated to not allow abuse of screening for non-disease conditions, such as selection for sex and for eugenic purposes.
Comprehensive Description
Every parent-to-be anticipates a healthy baby, but it can be hard not to worry about the unknown. Genetics, “the study of… the way traits are passed down from one generation to another” (CDC, 2003, pp.1-8), is one way we try to assuage this fear. Fortunately, the application of diagnostic technologies in the form of prenatal genetic tests can help reassure and provide information throughout pregnancy. For the purpose of this paper, prenatal genetic testing is any investigation for a genetic disease or condition in an embryo, fetus, or baby before it is born, regardless of aim. The intention may be to detect birth defects, chromosomal abnormalities, or genetic
References: American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2006). New recommendations for Down syndrome call for offering screenings to all pregnant women http://www.acog.org/About_ACOG/News_Room/News_Releases/2006/New_Recommendations_for_Down_Syndrome BBC Online (2010) Bennett-Woods, D. (2005). Ethics at a glance. Retrieved from http://rhchp.regis.edu/HCE/EthicsAtAGlance/index.html Bennett-Woods, D Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), (2003). Genomics and population health: United States. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/genomics/about/reports/2003/2003_lingo.htm de Jong, A., Dondorp, W de Jong, A., Dondorp, W. J., Frints, S. M., de Die-Smulders, C. M., & de Wert, G. R. (2010). Non-invasive prenatal testing: Ethical issues explored. European Journal of Human Genetics, 18, 272-277. Denier, Y Pence, G. E. (2011). Medical ethics: Accounts of ground-breaking cases. (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill. Porz, R., & Widdershoven, G Singer, Peter (1993). Taking life: Humans. Practical ethics (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.