Genetic Testing Cons

Genetic testing among children can have its pros and cons, but it all comes down to if the parent believe it will benefit their child. There are so many things that genes can tell us from ancestry to diseases. If a disease runs in a parent’s genes, and they are worried their child might have that gene, they can get genetic testing to see if that disease runs in their child’s genes. Though genetic testing can be informative, it can change children’s personality, they can develop self-esteem issues after the discovery of a disease, and with all of the decisions parents make when they raise a child, worrying about if their child may inherit a disease should not be one.
As a child grows, they learn who they are and start to form their identity. At a young age small experiences can greatly influence who they become.
Life can be full of changes in our strengths and weaknesses, with genetic testing we can know almost everything about our ancestry and our future. Although it may be nice to know everything, some things are better left unknown. After discovering that your child may have an onset disorder, would you treat them differently? There are many ethical choices that are in genetic testing, whether or not to do it, and what the outcome may be. An author for the American Journal of Bioethics helped to explain the best scenario for the use of genetic testing. According to Ellen Clayton, ”The primary and strongest justification for genetic testing of children exists when the results will clarify the cause of current symptoms, when the onset of the condition may occur during childhood, or when the information will be used to embark on a course of care that must start during childhood to prevent or ameliorate later symptoms.” (Clayton, 2) Clayton helped to solidify the point that if there are no major problems with your ancestry, genetic testing is not