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Should parents who have undesireable prenatal genetic testing results be allowed to abort?

Should parents who have prenatal genetic testing be allowed to abort?

In today's changing world, it's becoming easier for expecting parents to find out it their child to be will have to deal with devestating, life threatening diseases and/or disorders. Many families who come to realize their child may either be born with or later suffer from disorders such as Tay-Sachs, choose to abort the fetus without continuing through with the pregnancy, without giving a chance for the prognosis to prove to not even effect their child, because it carries the genes.



This, in my opinion, is no reason for families to abort. To me, this is not a reason for committing murder of an unborn child, regardless of the outcome of the prenatal genetic testing. I personally feel that regardless, parents should take the chance and go through with the pregnancy, because they're taking a chance regardless whether they abort or not. I personally would not abort if I found out my unborn child carried the gene. Just because they carry the gene, doesnt mean it will effect them personally.



Most generally, genetic testing is requested by doctors for women over 40 years of age, who carry a higher risk for their baby to have birth deffects or to carry the genes of devistating genes.

Other than women giving birth over the age of 40, what are the odds of carrying a problem gene? The odds of carrying such genes vary among racial and ethnic groups as so: Cysticfibrosis-African-Americans: 1:65, Ashkenazi Jews: 1:26-29, European American: 1:25-29, Hispanic: 1:46, and Mediteranian: 1:29. Betathalassemia-African-American: 1:75, Hispanic: 1:30-50, Mediteranian: 1:25. Sickle cell- African-American: 1:75 and Mediteranian: 1:40 (The Exponent Telegram Wednesday Feb 17, 2010: March of Dimes; Oregon Health & Science University; Oregon Department of Human Rescourses; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists).



Parents do continue the pregnancy even with genetic testing results undesireable.

"Because of this particular controversy, there is an active group of people who advocates banning genetic testing. Genetic testing is proving very useful in identifying certain types of conditions and ailments that actually can be corrected before the baby is born. Therefore, it is as a process of playing a role in regard to pregnancy for which people have any specific disagreement. In addition, there are many parents who elect to have genetic testing undertaken so that they can be prepared for a baby that might have some sort of serious problem, sort of serious health or physical issue. These parents do not desire to terminate a pregnancy but rather desire to be well prepared for the birth of a child that will have special needs." (Remy Nara, Ezinearticles.org)

Thursday, March 11, 2010

To test or not to test? that is the question

I believe that parents should have testing done for an unborn child but only if the family carries the trait or genes. People are born everyday and are genetically prone to carry some genes or inherit things later in life. Take for instance if your father has high blood pressure. More than likely as you get older you will havbe this problem. But should you have been aborted because of this. No, I think not. I think the testing should be done but only for life threatening reasons of the mother or because of suspected complications of the child being born.
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