The article Genetic Testing in Newborns gets a Critical Breakthrough, written by Alice Park, addresses future breakthroughs in the medical future. Genetic testing in newborns is definitely a development in the treatment of babies, especially those born prematurely and with health/development issues. By being able to test DNA and get results in as early as 26 hours and as late as 50 hours it dramatically increases the outlook on the treatment rates and the survival rates in high sensitivity cases. The average costs for these tests is around $20,000. These high costs will limit the ability of many families to receive these tests when they are opened up on the market as this testing is still strictly only being researched. The expenses included
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This will allow us to pinpoint DNA differences sooner to better prepare expectant parents or providers for any possible issues, and allow for planning as to what will occur when the infant is born if the parents plan to pursue the pregnancy. The expense of this testing is large but so aren’t the expenses of treating a baby in the NICU after birth if they don’t know what to look for or how to treat it. When this occurs they test for everything possible to try and make leeway for discovery and treatment, this exponentially increases the hospital bill. I personally believe that all women should get a genetic test done while pregnant, and that they should find a way to make it more accessible for women in lower income families. Abortion rates may increase but so may adoption rates, adoption rates would be a more favorable option but if the mothers’ health is impaired due to a genetic defect in the fetus then the mother has the right to terminate for her own well-being. These genetic test can dramatically improve the standard of living for people whom are born with a genetic test starting with treatment even possibly before birth, with the pristine accuracy of 99% of identifying the genetic differences present in the infants’ blood. Knowing that their child may have a genetic defect can help the families prepare for the additional costs, the added help around the home due to the mothers need to have 24-hour supervision, and also the mental impairments that the infant may be born
This will allow us to pinpoint DNA differences sooner to better prepare expectant parents or providers for any possible issues, and allow for planning as to what will occur when the infant is born if the parents plan to pursue the pregnancy. The expense of this testing is large but so aren’t the expenses of treating a baby in the NICU after birth if they don’t know what to look for or how to treat it. When this occurs they test for everything possible to try and make leeway for discovery and treatment, this exponentially increases the hospital bill. I personally believe that all women should get a genetic test done while pregnant, and that they should find a way to make it more accessible for women in lower income families. Abortion rates may increase but so may adoption rates, adoption rates would be a more favorable option but if the mothers’ health is impaired due to a genetic defect in the fetus then the mother has the right to terminate for her own well-being. These genetic test can dramatically improve the standard of living for people whom are born with a genetic test starting with treatment even possibly before birth, with the pristine accuracy of 99% of identifying the genetic differences present in the infants’ blood. Knowing that their child may have a genetic defect can help the families prepare for the additional costs, the added help around the home due to the mothers need to have 24-hour supervision, and also the mental impairments that the infant may be born