Genetic Testing Negatively Affects Lives

There are two main ways genetic testing places a constraint on a child’s right to an open future. The first of these is that the revelation of a child’s disease status can change his life narrative and the way parents and others treat him, and substantially alter his or her life’s trajectory (Davis _____). Parents may feel guilty or shelter their not-yet-sick

Any couple who's they themselves or their partner's family have a history of certain genetic diseases or disabilities will feel pressured to have this testing done. This topic reminds of the movie Gattica, where parents can now choose what traits their child will have, even removing conditions such baldness and alcoholism. In one scene the parent have chosen to have this done with their second born son, after conceiving their firstborn naturally. When they met with the doctors, the parent express that they only want to insure that their child is healthy and leave the rest up to chance. But the doctor they insist they don't, and they continue with the full procedure. I don't believe this could happen if these testings advances. Today's culture is tries it's best to more accepting of one another, if this continue I don't see future parents opting to do such testings. There will be some who do, but again it will only be a small percentage of potential parents who will do

I do not believe that “direct-to-consumer” genetic testing is wise, especially without the involvement of trained professionals or set guidelines. As mentioned in the prompt, some of the risks that I believe are important involve the ethical and social challenges direct-to-consumer testing can create as well as the complexity of certain genomic tests.

Just as most bioethicists and medical professionals agree that genetic testing for curable or preventable diseases is beneficial to patients, they also agree that genetic testing for incurable and untreatable diseases, such as Alzheimer's, is useless (Hubbard & Wald, 1999; Ridley, 1999). Although a negative test may afford a person the reassurance that he or she will not develop the disease, a positive test could be a death sentence. For example, since 1986 people who are at risk for Huntington's disease have had the option of being tested for the mutation on chromosome 4 that is linked to the disease (Ridley, 1999). In Genome, Nancy Wexler, a woman who set out to identify the Huntington's gene in the late 1970s, relates the story of a woman who asked doctors whether or not she had Huntington's disease (Ridley, 1999). Although the doctors found that the woman was showing subtle signs of the disease, she could not detect these signs herself. The doctors, rather than telling the woman that she had the disease, let her believe that she was well and did not have Huntington's disease. After the woman left the doctors' office, the woman's friend came into the office and asked the doctors what they had said to the woman, because earlier the woman had told her friend that she

Many people have a negative outlook on prenatal genetic testing but that is because they are not educated on the goals

I agree that a disadvantage to genetic testing may result in discrimination. After learning more about the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, I find it interesting that the law not only restricts genetic information but also includes one’s individual and family medical history (NIH, 2014). The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act took effect in 2009, and also resulted in amendments to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act in 2013, to clarify genetic information as health information (NIH, 2014). Another interesting fact regarding the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act is that it does not cover government based health insurers, such as military, veteran, or federal employee health benefits (NIH,

If the genetic information is only accessible to the individual then there is a decreased chance of such discrimination occurring because the information is disclosed to who the individual wishes to. Genetic information can raise questions about personal responsibility, personal choice versus genetic determinism, and concepts of health and disease. Personal factors, family values, and community and cultural beliefs can mould the reactions to these issues. For example the response to the genetic information and suggestion from physicians after the test will be drastically different in a society where traditions and religion determine life choices, such as India, than to a more individually liberal society like the USA. Even in a progressive society that has had specific ethnic groups for multiple generations disparities with medical technology are common. A study conducted, using the national representative data, in the USA with the sample that consisted of 1724 men and women of non-Hispanic whites, Latinos, and African American background. Results exposed significant differences by racial/ethnic groups in knowledge and concerns about the potential misuse of genetic testing. Significantly higher levels of mistrust in a physician and the medical system was a common thread within minorities. The genetic tests can be a way of ridding anxiety attached to the assumed inheritance of genetic disease due to family background whilst for others the genetic test reveals their reality. The results can have a great deal of a psychological impact upon the individual. The possibility of developing a genetic disease alone can create anxiety within some. The psychological impact from the results revealed is another issue that society is concerned about. A

The opposing side argues, however, that society is not ready for this technology. People may not be capable of handling the emotional or psychological stress associated with genetic testing. Results may vary between genetic testing companies and many variables, such as sampling errors, could lead to a false positive or false negative test. Further, it is possible that some people may interpret the seriousness or implications of their results incorrectly. This could result in people making unnecessary, and even dangerous, lifestyle changes. For example, if a person is told that he or she has a 60% of being diagnosed with breast cancer, that person may undergo preventative surgery to avoid the disease; however, such surgery may have been unnecessary, as the person may never have developed the disease.

Here is a real life story of a woman who has been greatly affected by genetic testing and has seen both the good and the bad of genetic testing. This is a story that was posted in an article called “6 Moms Share Their Real Prenatal Testing Stories” on the website “What to Expect” from Courtney from Lake Stevens, Washington about how genetic testing has affected her life. So for Courtney, a few weeks after her 13 week ultrasound and her quad screen her doctors told her she had a positive screen for Down syndrome. So at 17 weeks she had to go back in for another ultrasound and genetic counseling which according to kids health.org is counseling that allows a genetic counselor to evaluate the results of a genetic test with the parents and helps the parents understand and reach decisions on what to do next. Her ultrasound looked great but still had a positive screen for Down syndrome. So she was was recommended for either an amnio or verifi test. Courtney then went to genetic counseling and choose to have the verifi test done over the amnio. A week later her results came back negative for Down syndrome and confirmed the baby was a girl. Courtney said “I am glad we opted to get the verifi test done especially after the stress of getting a positive screening before. I like how that if the NIPT did turn out positive for Down syndrome, I could have prepared ahead of time for the care of a special needs child would require, rather than feeling completely caught off-guard at birth.”

Thank you for responding to my writing. Your disagreement on my paper regarding genetic testing at work place is valid, but I got a question for you though. What happens in situations whereby the process of genetic testing is done for the safety and well-being of those who will be working in that institution? I am asking this because I consider being recruited as a collegiate athlete is form of employment and genetic testing is mandatory nowadays. why? because recently, there was a law suit filed against Rice University by a family of Dayle Lloyd and the main reason way because Llyod died during a football practice in 2006 and was later found to have had the sickle cell gene that would been avoided had genetic testing been done during the process

I personally see anything wrong with genetic testing. I believe genetic testing is actually a pretty good thing to test and see if fetuses are going to be born with defects. as I read the first article and I saw there are problems with genetic testing such as the fetus die or be born with defects because of the testing I believe that that is something I'm willing to put in the line to see if my child with. I also agree that genetic testing should be up to the parents of that fetus because there are major side effects and deformities that are very serious that may happen to the fetus.

The subject matter of genetic testing was at the most extreme in this particular motion picture. I have known for quite some time that these undertakings could be achieved with the knowledge and scientific discoveries that we have today, however, it made me feel distraught that the world could possibly one day come to that. It was so aesthetic and some would say monotonous. What is really disheartening is that like Ethan’s character, who was so intelligent, trained his body to be strong, and had so much to give this world, he could have been deprived of living out his dream simply due to not being picture-perfect. I can recognize performing genetic testing is a necessity if there is suspected illness or disease. By all means test me or any

False positive prenatal testing results lead to hundreds of thousands of abortions each year; even when the baby is healthy. Lastly the society often presumes that people with genetic disorders could not get a job and fulfill their lives, however from Waterloo’s 10 year research; it is clear that they could get a job and graduate from high school and fulfill their lives just like everybody else. It is time for the society to stop performing prenatal testing. Further, change and accept people with genetic disorders, because all humans are born

Though genes often have more than one use, for example, a gene that controls intelligence could also control anger management, you could end up with a genius, but very angry child, the technology has the ability to potentially eliminate the age barrier, and allow humans to live much longer than they are able to do today. The lifespan of a body 's cells could be lengthened, and regeneration of those cells stretched by several years, which raises many questions around ethics. One question is around compliance and the fact that genetically altered babies have no say in what is being done to their bodies before birth. Another is the fact that genetic testing is likely only something the wealthy will be able to afford. This may result in class wars and cause a great deal of resentment. Also, another question is around genetic engineering may cause overpopulation if humans are living longer, but there is no denying the benefit that this technology could also hold the promise of preventing genetic abnormalities that may be passed on to future generation^6.

Considering the technology of using genetic testing is a relatively new source, the test results often show false positives. When testing, less than 1% of a person’s genes is sampled (Hall). This statistic proves that gene testing does not sample a reasonable amount of a person’s DNA to prove he or she posses a disease. When a woman is pregnant, she is given the choice to have her child’s genes tested for possible illnesses. However in multiple cases, many parents are given incorrect results causing them to terminate the pregnancy. For example, 85% of parents who learn that their child will have Down’s Syndrome abort the baby (Camosy). When in reality, considering the amount of false positives, these babies may be completely healthy but are never given a chance of life. The