Ethical Issues With Prenatal Genetic Testing

Prenatal genetic sequencing is a scientific procedure that predicts the risk of developing an illness later in life, and/or shows potential traits such as athleticism and intelligence in an unborn child. These predictions of illness and potential traits come from analyzing fetal DNA found in a sample of the mother’s blood. A very important and main concern for prenatal genetic testing is for preparation of treatment for a predicted illness in a child. Also parents are often interested in these predictions simply for having an indication of what they are getting themselves into. Prenatal genetic testing is a rising topic in present ethical conflicts. To consider this subject on an ethical level, we will discuss ethical conflicts involving prenatal …show more content…
Reasons that prenatal genetic testing can be seen as moral in terms of a utilitarian aspect is that we can end up with great outcomes. Outcomes such as readily available treatment for a predicted disease, or prevention of diseases can really be beneficial to a family. An example of this is with diabetes. If diabetes found on a future child DNA cell, we may have precautions with the nutrition and physical activity of that child. This could lead to a successful prevention and would be a good consequence of prenatal genetic testing. If thinking about Prenatal Genetic Testing solely as an indicator to help the wellbeing of a future child as he/she grows up, then this procedure can be regarded as ethical in Utilitarian terms. However prenatal genome testing can also be considered as unethical if consequences can be detrimental to a child. For example, if a child was to grow up with unnecessary precautions and constant testing that will ruin a child’s process of growing up. A child may be jealous that other children may be able to eat what they want, do what they want, and would not have to be heavily monitored as he/she does. A child can also miss out on activities, events and sports due to this precaution of a possible disease. This can greatly affect a child and also produce anxiety. However in dealing with these outcomes, we can look at the factors to decide …show more content…
If the parent’s wished to receive this form of treatment, Kantian theorists would absolutely perform the procedure. We should respect the parent or patient’s autonomy in making decisions. The consequences in this theory would not make a difference in regards to the morality of this conflict. Therefore anxiety, and a childhood being ruined may not matter as much in Kantian theory. In Kantian theory, we will decipher if this conflict were ethical based on acting out of duty and acting out of duty. In regards to acting out of duty, we may believe that this decision is ethical if it a right thing to do. Following a patient’s demand to be treated is the right thing to do in a physician’s viewpoint. There are no questions asked in this theory and if obeying a patient’s order is a part of this right thing to do and is involved with good will, then by all means we must obey. In acting out of duty we may see that prenatal genetic testing is universal. We may see that if everyone in the world performed prenatal genetic testing, we would still be able to test on unborn children DNA for possible occurrence of diseases in the future. In regards to respect, we should always give reverence to the patient/parent’s wishes despite what outcomes come by. Therefore if a physician is asked to perform a procedure, he/she must perform that procedure. If a parent wishes to abort a child