Genetic Testing Pros And Cons

1356 Words6 Pages

Chandra Ghimirey
ENG102
Mrs. Beno
17 November 2015
Genetic Testing of Children: Is it safe? How do you feel about genetic testing? How would you feel if you or one of your family members had to make life-changing decision? There are lots of pros and cons behind genetic testing and other problem that may arise. Genetic testing has been a controversial topic in the 21st century. Genetic testing was first introduced in 2008. Genetic Home Reference defines genetic testing as, “a type of medical test that identifies changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins. The results of a genetic test can confirm or rule out a suspected genetic condition or help determine a person’s chance of developing or passing on a genetic disorder.” A person who comes …show more content…

However, many questions arise when we are talking about the children who may have to be tested to verify if they are carrying the gene. Is it safe to test a child who may or may not be able to handle the information? There are lots of benefits of having a genetic test, but the negative effects outweigh the benefit. I’m against genetic testing because it causes psychological distress and financial drawbacks while growing up and it can have traumatic effects on children. First of all, the main reason not to have a genetic test on children is because it can result in psychological and emotional impact on the child and their family. As with many medical tests, genetic tests do not give a precise answer about inherited diseases. Genetic tests are mostly done when there is a little chance of inheriting the disease if one of the family members had it. There are many complications that may occur before and after taking the test, such as stress and anxiety. In the article, “Genetic Testing of Children for Adult-Onset Disease: Is testing in the Child’s Best Interests?,” Mary Kay Pelias discuses if children should take a genetic test or not. He said, “If the information is carelessly conveyed to children, they may experience depression or loss of self- esteem, and …show more content…

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