Answer each question, in a minimum of 100 words, regarding genetic testing and t
ID: 98659 • Letter: A
Question
Answer each question, in a minimum of 100 words, regarding genetic testing and the ethical decisions involved in making those decisions. Use one to two scholarly resources to support your explanations. While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, including APA reference page for both parts of the assignment. 1. Describe three genetic tests available to parents. Why would parents choose to complete these genetic tests? 2. What ethical dilemmas might arise in association with genetic testing? Consider the three genetic tests that you discussed in question 1. Would they all have the same ethical implications? Why or why not? 3. Discuss how your religious worldview might influence your reproductive choices and/or a decision to conduct genetic testing during pregnancy.
words: 400
Explanation / Answer
1. A genetic test is a test which is performed by parents to detect the bloodlines and the inheritance pattern of the diseases and characteristics. The test helps the parents determine the parentage of their new-born child or the unborn child. The test allows them to study the chromosomes and the chances of having a genetic defect or the forms of mutant genes that can give rise to the genetic defect. The three tests that can be done are:
The parents can choose the test if they wish to know the complications in their new born or the unborn chlild. Then they can go for the test. If the parents go for the test, the test can provide necessary information about their child's future health and if there are chances of having any health risk.
2. The genetic test has ethical issues connected to them. As any test cannot provide 100% results and confirmation about any condition whether it will occur or not. The serious concern is that the test reports should not be used against the person who went for the test. The genetic test raises serious issues for the medicine and the health of the public in general. It includes the implementation of the test and the how the test results are used. Another concern about the test is whether the parents should be allowed to choose or refuse the test or it should be made mandatory for them. These ethical issues are still unanswered to a certain extent as it often raises discrimination if the results are given to the third person.
The tests that are discussed above can have ethical implications. This is because there are certain limitations to these test in certain clinical situations. The test allows you determine the gene mutations but they can also lead to a limited predictive result. For eg, in the case of CF carrier test, if both the parents are carriers and have the mutations for CF, the prenatal test will determine the fetus has inherited the mutation or not. But the test will not be able to determine the severty of the disease. This will leave the couple into an ethical dilemma whether to end the pregnancy or continue it.