Scientific discoveries have increased over the last decade, creating new solutions and some new ethical dilemmas. Genetic testing is a relatively new and rapidly emerging field (Fulda and Lykens, 2004) and has caused some ethics conversations over the past couple of years. Genetic testing is a form of a medical test that identifies changes in genes and or chromosomes. These tests are usually done because parents are curious whether or not their offspring will be a carrier or have a specific genetic disease.
If it is determined that the offspring will have a genetic disease, this is when the genetic issues arise. From here there is a discussion on whether or not, the entire family should know if it effects them and whose decision that is. There seems to be two moral theories when answering the ethical dilemma. One being total autonomy, meaning making a decision void of any coercion and the other being deciding for the betterment of the society. …show more content…
Ethical Issues in Predictive Testing: A Public Health Perspective places a higher weight on conserving the population as a whole, meaning doing what is best for the community and not for the individual. The article by Lea and others bases their argument with numerous examples of situation that could occur but the piece by Fulda and Lykens is a more convincing argument because they include the counter argument in their article and discuss a possible balance between both views while placing their argument with various facts and creating a viable solution that would appease both sides of the
If it is determined that the offspring will have a genetic disease, this is when the genetic issues arise. From here there is a discussion on whether or not, the entire family should know if it effects them and whose decision that is. There seems to be two moral theories when answering the ethical dilemma. One being total autonomy, meaning making a decision void of any coercion and the other being deciding for the betterment of the society. …show more content…
Ethical Issues in Predictive Testing: A Public Health Perspective places a higher weight on conserving the population as a whole, meaning doing what is best for the community and not for the individual. The article by Lea and others bases their argument with numerous examples of situation that could occur but the piece by Fulda and Lykens is a more convincing argument because they include the counter argument in their article and discuss a possible balance between both views while placing their argument with various facts and creating a viable solution that would appease both sides of the