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The Pros And Cons Of Genetic Testing

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Recommended: Ethical issues surrounding genetic testing

Advancements in science have allowed us to have greater information regarding the many diseases and disorders that have the potential to afflict us; such is the case with genetic testing. Genetic testing allows providers to screen individuals for changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins and either confirm or rule out a suspected genetic condition (National Institute of Health [NIH], 2018). Although we now have the ability to test for thousands of genetic disorders, does not mean that we should test for these disorders. There are many instances, especially in regards to the unborn and adolescent children, where we must consider the legal, ethical, and social implications for doing so.
At first glance, it may seem reasonable to provide genetic testing to those individuals who would like to know whether they, …show more content…

As with all of our actions in nursing, and the health care profession, we must also consider the many implications our actions may have. “Providers who receive requests for genetic testing in children must weigh the interests of children and those of their parents and families” (American Society of Human Genetics Board of Directors, & American College of Medical Genetics Board of Directors, 1995). One must consider the many ethical considerations of genetic testing in children and adolescents. Testing should be carried out only if there is a timely medical benefit toward preventative measures. For example, it may not be prudent to test a young child for early onset Alzheimer’s. Although the disease strikes young, it typically does not affect one until adulthood when the subject can then make their own decision whether they would like to know if they carry the gene. Likewise, there are many legal implications surrounding genetic testing. If a parent chooses to have their child tested for Huntington’s disease and find they are a carrier, this could affect the child’s ability to obtain life insurance in the future. Whether counseling a parent,

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Copeland’s purpose to inform, as well as engage or entertain, is developed through the structure of the article. Specifically, the structure of Copeland’s article consists of a personal story and other examples, along with statistical data. Copeland wants her readers to understand how DNA testing can be an emotional process, having positive outcomes for many families and yet also causing potential burdens for

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If we were able to make our children smarter, better looking, or more athletic, should we? Amy Sterling Casil had that exact scenario in mind when she wrote her short story, Perfect Stranger in 2006. Written in the first-person narrative that takes place in the distant future, Casil weaves a terrifying story of genetic alteration to “fix” our children’s flaws. What harm can it cause if gene therapy is performed as an elective procedure rather than medical necessity? Gary and Carolyn, expecting parents, find out their little boy will need gene therapy while still in the womb if they hope to spare him from a fatal heart condition.

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Copeland carefully selects words in the introduction to emphasize an overall nonchalance in compiling such comprehensive information, “Over the past five years, as the price of DNA testing kits has dropped and their quality has improved, the phenomenon of ‘recreational genomics’ has taken off,” (Copeland). The use of “recreational” suggests the practice of gathering broad scientific information lacks gravity. In fact, the author contrasts the word with more levity with the use of “genomics”, a concrete science that affects the structure and function of genetic information. The dramatic usage indicates to the audience that users of DNA testing are incapable of understanding all possible consequences of accessible genetic testing. Traditions of past generations provide a foundation for the identity of future generations.

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“Genetic Testing and Secrets” In the article “Secrets of the Grave” it talks about how genetic testing can raise questions relating to the ethical way of getting genetic information and other questions relating to those they are testing. It can also lead to the use of and collection of questionable products such as jewelry with a famous persons DNA in it. This has lead policymakers to start to question the ethics of Biohistory, meaning whether a relative should be asked if genetic testing is ok or if the products being sold are appropriate. Scientist can use Biohistory which is the combination of biological testing and history.

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It is never ethical for patients to be intimidated or forced into undergoing certain testing. I believe it is the patient’s decision whether to undergo genetic testing and be informed of the results. In my opinion, a lack of genetic counselors compromises the ethics of genetic testing as patients are more vulnerable to being pressured into doing tests or receiving results they never wished to receive. Therefore, I believe genetic testing is done in a more ethical way when genetic counselors are available as counselors operate by listening to patient requests, only providing information of testing he/she wishes to undergo, and only presenting and helping patients understand the requested results. Even the author of Proverbs 11:14 (English Standard Version) points out the ethical importance of counselors by declaring, “[w]here there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”

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There have been multiple “designer baby” procedures in order to fix diseases or to create a child that is a specific copy of a deceased sibling. Many have heard of the book My Sister's Keeper, which later became a movie. There have been multiple accounts where families have edited their unborn child's DNA in order to provide copies what their sick child needs. In one case parents of Britain’s first “designer baby” projected an attack on the critics of these procedures. This Whitaker’s had a four year old child, Charlie, who suffered from Anaemia.

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Clinical trials have been a boon to modern medicine by broadening the knowledge surrounding disease plaguing the human race and providing a tangible measure of the success and symptoms of treatments to combat these diseases. However each progression in science comes with unintended consequences, in the case of clinical trials it was corruption at the expense of the human volunteers. The Tuskegee Study, conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service and Tuskegee Institute in 1932, is an infamous example of clinical trials crossing the ethical line. However what is ethics? As noted by The Basics of Social Research by Earl Babbie, ethics are a social construction and subjective.

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Be that as it may, others view these tests as immoral and should be illegal universally. So much so that there are animal activists who protest against the use of animal testing for cosmetics. Similarly, an organization

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In this time and age, countless advances in technology have been made, including ones that respond to Regan’s point. These modern methods include sophisticated tests using human cells and tissues, advanced computer-modeling techniques, and studies with human volunteers. These may even lead to more accurate results. I argue that animal testing is wasteful because it prolongs the suffering of humans waiting for results of misleading experiments. Not all tests done to animals apply to humans, for our genetic makeup and composition differ from each other.

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Genetic testing has raised an ethical debate. According to Mand, Gillam, Debatyckis, and Duncan (2012) neither argument has taken a strong dominance over the other. Mand et al. (2012) states that “the debate has adopted a to-and-fro pattern defined by parallel lines of argument, rarely intersecting and relying heavily on fundamentally opposed positions on core principles of bioethics with no reconciliation in sight”(Discussion, para.3).

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Letting insurance companies have access to these results gives them a better chance to determine the cost of one’s health insurance. Insurance companies have the right to differentiate premiums on the level of risk each applicant has (Morris, 2010). Having access to genetic testing allows them to be much more fair, as most of the time, insurance companies have to look at family history. This can be skewed, because your family members having a genetic disorder doesn’t automatically make you have it, even if most of your family members get it. This can cause someone who doesn’t have a genetic disorder having to pay more because their family has a history of a certain genetic disorder.

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Should the U.S government regulate genetic testing? Gene testing is 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. This essay will discuss gene testing being regulated by the U.S government, as the U.S government is the most up-to-date country in terms of gene testing and they have multiple active genetic testing businesses, with regards to strong ethically based laws surrounding them. The ethical issues surrounding gene testing that will be discussed are; whether or not the federal government should take full control over genetic testing,

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As these tests become more and more popular, they can cause changes in medicine, the legal system, and how a person’s genetic information will be used and shared. There have been ongoing efforts to help make consumers more aware of these implications. The Personal Genetics Education Project is one of these non-profit institutes that’s purpose is to raise public awareness and promote conversations about the various decisions that can be made when it comes to genetic testing. Once people have more knowledge on commercial testing, they will be better able to voice their opinions on the subject. And through exploring all the pros and cons, they can make decisions on the subject that are right for them (Kung and Wu,

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