Hello, badoowii-ga!
The following references highlight some of the ethical issues
involved with genetic testing.
"GENETIC SCREENING AND ETHICS AN OVERVIEW," by David Devore. 1992
Woodrow Wilson Biology Institute.
http://www.woodrow.org/teachers/bi/1992/gen_screen1.html
Excerpt:
"The significance of the debate about what constitutes a disease is
underscored by the two broad questions which underlay the current
debate: Who decides whether or not testing is done; and what happens
to that information? Clearly genetic screening is going to be done.
The question is how are we going to use it and what social limit will
we put on it? There is an apparent discrepancy between the reality of
genetic variability and the democratic ideal that all citizens are
"created equal." Possible outcomes of genetic screening experts see
are:
"Genetic discrimination. People with genetic flaws, not all of which
show up as dysfunctions, may be denied life insurance, health
insurance, and access to schooling or to jobs."
"Differential treatment. Employers could hire only those people whose
genes indicate they are resistant to the health hazards of the work
place, which is a cheaper alternative to making the work place safe
for all."
"Eugenics. Social or political pressure may be applied to people to
make childbearing decisions on the basis of genetic information.
Mating between those with valued genes may be encouraged while mating
between two people with dangerous recessive traits may be prohibited.
Women carrying fetuses with genetic abnormalities may be encouraged to
abort."
"Genetic determinism. Genetic determinism is the belief that
behavioral and personality characteristics, such as intelligence or
criminal behavior, are mostly a function of genes. Genetic determinism
implies a fatalistic attitude toward health and disease. It can be
used to justify bigotry and to perpetuate racial or ethnic
inequalities. A genetic underclass could be created."
Other troubling questions loom on the horizon:
"Once it becomes possible to test quickly and reliably for thousands
of genetic conditions, will physicians be expected to perform such
tests? Will the physician be liable for failing to test or for failing
to inform parents of every detail of the test results?
"Who should counsel patients about what their genetic blueprints mean
and how will people react to the sure knowledge of their particular
genetic makeup?"
"Will health insurers deny policies to people with genes for diseases
with high economic cost? Will life insurers? Does either have the
right to?"
"Should laws be passed to protect people against genetic
discrimination by private entities?
"How can genetic profiles be kept confidential and how can the
discriminatory use of test results be prevented? Since some tests will
reveal information about other family members, can the privacy of
these relatives be protected?"
"Do people have the right to choose not to know about their genes? Do
mothers have the right to choose not to have their fetuses tested?"
==
Also read "Profiling the newborn: a prospective gene technology? Human
Genetics Commission. March 2005
http://www.hgc.gov.uk/UploadDocs/Contents/Documents/Final%20Draft%20of%20Profiling%20Newborn%20Report%2003%2005.pdf
*** Scroll down to 3. Ethical, legal and social implications
==
From Watchdog rejects genetic profiling of babies," by Sarah Boseley.
The Guardian. April 1, 2005.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/genes/article/0,,1449926,00.html
"But there are ethical issues. Genetic tests could reveal that a baby
had an inherited disorder that would end in death or incapacity as an
adult, such as early-onset Alzheimer's disease. There are questions
over obtaining this information for a child too young to consent to
the test, who would then have the unwelcome knowledge for the rest of
his or her life."
"It is also possible that results could be used to discriminate
against people by insurance companies and employers."
==
Also see "ETHICAL, LEGAL, SOCIAL AND POLICY ISSUES IN MEDICAL GENETIC
TESTING OF RELEVANCE TO SINGAPORE: PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES," by Dr. Eric
Yap. February 2005. http://www.bioethics-singapore.org/resources/pdf/Annex%20C-2%20Dr%20Eric%20Yap.pdf
==
It might be worth purchasing the following article:
"Genetic profiling of newborns: ethical and social issues," by Brenda Almond
Nature Reviews Genetics 7, 67-71 (January 2006)
http://www.nature.com/nrg/journal/v7/n1/abs/nrg1745.html
==
I hope these references help provide a good start toward identifying
ethical issues surrounding this important subject!
umiat
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