Lisa Genova’s Inside the O’Briens explores the impact of a genetic, neurological disease on a close-knit family. For this particular book, Genova selected to examine how Huntington’s disease can affect the relationships and lives of family members following a diagnosis. Joe O’Brien is the primary character targeted by this disease, but his family absorbs the shock via adjustments to symptoms and possible diagnosis later in life. Throughout this analysis, I will consider how Joe’s novel diagnosis impacts his family members, identify the key issues and points about Huntington’s disease, and indicate how reading this book has affected my understanding of Huntington’s disease, as well as other neurodegenerative diseases.…
Benchmark Assignment: Ethical Dilemmas The issue of abortion has almost no equal in possessing the potential to polarize two sides of an issue, often resulting in high-emotion and on rare occasions leading to violent reactions including the bombing of abortion clinics and attacks on the doctors who perform them. The controversial issue was decided in the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, which affirmed a woman’s right to have an abortion. However, the issue still remains unresolved in the hearts and minds of many across the country as battle lines are drawn on when life begins. This paper will examine both sides of the abortion debate, and in particular, whether an abortion would be an appropriate response by someone who has become aware that the child they are carrying has Down syndrome.…
Gene therapy for example has some ethical issues of how they decide which cases gene therapy is acceptable and which is not, high costs may only make it available to the wealthy, and possibly make society less accepting of different people (What Is Gene Therapy). Another problem arises with this, where does it stop? While in some cases it may be very helpful to cure a disease, people may take advantage and start using this therapy to try to alter things like athleticism, intelligence, or other traits they may wish to change. Those ethical problems are also similar ones we are seeing today with the designer baby, especially the social gap.…
While there are many issues surrounding the use of human cells and tissues in scientific research, the main issue surrounds that of morality and subsequently, ownership and consent. It is unethical to perform scientific testing on a fetal…
In order to prove his moral principle, Savulescu first presents to us a situation where we have to pick between a healthy embryo and an embryo with disease traits. Imagine, for example, a couple having IVF in an attempt to have a child. It produces two embryos and both were tested for common diseases; while Embryo A has no abnormalities on the tests performed, Embryo B’s genetic profile reveals a predisposition to develop asthma. He argues that we should not choose Embryo B because asthma ultimately reduces the quality of the…
The virtue ethics philosopher says about the ethical dilemma, it is becoming increasing the routine to test fetus for a variety of genetic reason and other anomalies. Ultrasound screening which is used screening of different morphological anomalies and the Maternal serum Alph-Fetoprotein Test (Msafp) which is essential to screen for tiresome chromosomal disorders Down syndrome which are routine parts of prenatal care, indeed , ultrasound screening does not even require formal informed consent from patients. The other tests used for diagnoses like amniocentesis rather than screens for tiresome disorders) and genetic testing for Tay-Sachs disease are common , also more tests for arcane are available , and it seems clear that the range of conditions…
“The medical community is largely cheering advances in noninvasive fetal DNA tests, fetal genome mapping and chromosomal microarrays that scour fetal DNA. But some opponents of abortion see this new technology as a threat, and they 're responding by restricting when women can terminate a pregnancy. Advocates for the disabled are also concerned, fearing that women may end pregnancies based on misinformation or myths” (Szabo). By looking at the articles, it is evident that hundreds of newborns are currently being killed with an abundance more to come, stemming from the new technological advances of genetic testing. Not only that, but research suggests that women are having abortions solely based on the fact that their child may be born with…
I have chosen to research “Three People IVF”. The terms “ethics, Bioethics and morals” mean; Ethics – Ethics is moral principles and values that direct us towards making the right’ choice. Morals – Principles on which ones judgement of right and wrong are based, individuals own principles of right and wrong. The judgement of good and bad. Bioethics – This is the study of ethical issues brought about by advances in various scientific…
Identify and discuss the ethical issues associated with In-vitro fertilisation. Many people to do not believe that IVF is very ethical. Some religious beliefs are; as in the words of Pope Pius XII an attempt by scientists to “take the Lord’s work into their own hands.” , or that IVF is simply unnatural. Others argue that it should be encouraged for people to pursue having children, because it shouldn't be decided whether someone can or can not have children.…
Prenatal genetic testing is beginning to become more at ease as mentioned by Carolyn Gonter in her 2004 article, The Expressivist Argument, Prenatal Diagnosis, and Selective Abortion: An Appeal to the Social Construction of Disability: As the ease of prenatal genetic testing increases alongside an increase in the number and variety of conditions testable, so does the general view, both in medical and social communities, that prenatal testing is a logical extension of good prenatal care with the goal of healthy babies. (p. 1) Some people argue having the screening performed on expecting mothers will be more harmful to the health of the unborn child and the mother, than helpful. Some may also be concerned about the psychological viewpoint and…
Technology is rapidly advancing in the field of editing genes in human embryos, and ethical debates on whether humanity should carry out this act have ensued. Those who oppose it are against the engineering of the human germline because changes are heritable and effects are unknown, and many also fear it will have negative societal effects. Those in favor of editing the human germline embrace the opportunity to enhance humanity. Baird (2007) says that controversy has been present since the invention of in vitro fertilization in 1978. Baird (2007) examines reasoning behind both sides regarding the ethics of reproductive technology, a debate which progressed with the invention of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis.…
While the idea of creating an artificial child may seem immoral, there are more advantages to designer babies than just eliminating disabilities. In addition to creating a fairer environment for all children, this procedure could also make them live longer with the discarding of disease causing genes. Furthermore, the newfound experience and data collected from this procedure could also help geneticists progress faster in their research in genetics. The operation could be also viewed as ethically accepted since some women take prenatal pills during pregnancy to ensure…
Brianna Madej Child Psychology Due: October 12th, 2015 Many different people have different opinions on prenatal testing. According to our textbook, prenatal development is divided into three main periods. The first two weeks are known as the germinal period; the third to eighth week is called the embryonic period; and the ninth week until birth is the fetal period. (The developing person through childhood and adolescence)…
With today’s technology it is much easier to test a baby’s chromosomes. After giving birth, chromosome analysis can be done via blood test, before birth via prenatal testing i.e. Amniocenteses or Chorionic villus sampling. This topic is controversial and there are mixed feelings if the testing should be done. I feel that doing prenatal testing in advance is unnecessary because generally, people do not terminate a pregnancy even when they hear that the fetus might have chromosomal abnormalities. Why should one go through all the angst of taking the controversial test and then wait with fear for the results?…
Abortion is the act of purposely killing a human fetus. This action is legal in the United States of America due to the differing opinions regarding it. In this essay, I will discuss whether, or not abortion is morally permissible. If Abortion is in fact morally permissible, is it permissible in all or just some situations? I will argue that abortion is only morally correct in cases of a fetus having a severe genetic disorder and when the mother’s life is in danger.…