Study Raises Questions About Genetic Testing of New Borns
Genetic testing of newborns seems like a really good idea. Who wouldn't want to know what genetic condition their baby has? Early detection can save millions of lives. Controversy arises, however, when newborns test positive for a genetic defect and show no immediate signs of the diseases. Sometimes, the results are inconclusive. "Rather than providing clear-cut diagnoses, screening of an entire population has created ambiguity about whether infants truly have a disease - and even what the disease is." It's like telling a family that their baby may or may not have a genetic disease, and there's no telling when we'll know for sure. It often causes people to take unnecessary and ridiculous precautions for a disease their child probably doesn't even have. Eventually, children who were "at risk" as babies, become to old to be at risk for those diseases, but parents still take those unnecessary precautions. It's extremely hard for any family who has a baby with a genetic defect. It's even harder to live with not knowing whether your baby is sick or not. In a way, genetic testing is a good thing, but there's definitely some considerations to be taken.
I agree genetic testing has its fair share of advantages and disadvantages. Looking at genetic testing with an open mind is easier when faced with controversial topics. Is it right for parents to take precautions for their children if their baby tests positive for a gene that may or may not be expressed in later life? This is like women going through breast vasectomies because they test positive for a gene. They could not even express the trait but is it really better to be rather safe than sorry? A lot of questions come to mind when being faced with genetic testing and i guess the decision is completely personal. It is up to the individual sets or parents on whether or not a precaution should be made.
ReplyDeleteI think that only people at risk for genetic diseases should be tested. If people in your family or your spouses family have genetic problems, then a baby should definitely be tested to allow for early detection and preventative treatment. However, I don't think that every baby should be tested. I have have no serious genetic diseases in my family, and if I had a baby and it got tested and came up inconclusive for something serious, then I would be stressed and worried and probably overprotective of it. I would always be worrying if there was something horribly wrong with my baby.
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