Embryo Testing

There are millions and millions of disease in the world and many of these diseases are genetic. These genetic diseases that have been passed down family lines, pose as a risk to couples that are planning on starting a family. In the “Ethics Questions Arise as Genetic Testing of Embryos Increases,” a young woman and her boyfriend found out that the woman has the genetic disease called “Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease, which will cause her to have a “slow and terrible death.” When people find out heartbreaking news like this, they have a lot of decisions to make and a lot of factors to consider if they plan on having children. This one woman still planned on having a child, so they chose a different route and had in vitro fertilization, so the eggs could be tested for the disease-causing gene.  The embryos without the gene were the ones that were implanted into her. Now they have two kids that will never have GSS.

The genetic testing of embryos has been around for a long time, and a lot of people have a hard time affording it because it is so expensive due to all the steps that have to be taken.

The main problem is that this has raised some ethical questions. In my opinion this should not have anything to do with ethics. This is about protecting new life from dangerous, life-threatening diseases. The woman is discard the eggs that are bad, which is better than destroying the fetus growing inside of her. If you have the chance, and resources to possibly change the future of a new life, then why wouldn’t you? The couple from the article had eggs tested, and the disease-free ones saved, this to me, was a genius idea. They chose to protect their children and now are living a happy life, and preparing the children for their mother’s death that will happen in the future.

Posted By: Maylissa Charmant (1)