Genetic Screening

Monthly Blood Test Time

In the early 1960’s the United States was able to use a process called genetic screening (“The Evolution”). Dictionary.com defines genetic screening as an “assessment of an individual's genetic makeup to detect inheritable defects that may be transmitted to offspring” (“Genetic Screening”). Genetic screening can be used for many things, but is often used to inform pregnant women if their fetus may have an underlying disorder such as Down Syndrome. Genetic screening is a basically a DNA test taken by a blood or spit sample (“Genetic Testing”). This sample determines if the fetus may have a genetic disorder or not. As great as all this technology is, not all genetic screening tests have been proven to be 100% accurate (Mayo Clinic). Due to this information, it has made genetic testing become a controversy topic. One argument says that genetic screening can be beneficial and the counterpoint is that genetic screening can be bad (DiLascio, Sprauge).

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The beneficial side of genetic screening says that genetic screening is helpful because they are able to prepare as needed before their child comes (DiLascio). For example, lets say you have a family who is financially stable, they are aware that a genetic disorder runs in their family, and they are overall have a good state of mind. This family may find out their fetus carries the genetic disorder, and this family is okay with the news. The information they have now received has given them insight of how they need to prepare for when their child comes. Their child may need more attention than most children and in the future they may need extra help like in school. These parents now can keep in mind the time they may need to take off from work or in general figure out the different things they may need to change to be able to support their child. 

19 week ultrasound

The counterpoint on the other hand, says, genetic testing is bad. Their reasoning behind this, is because parents may find out their child has a genetic disorder and may decide to terminate the fetus (Sprague). An example of this could be, a different family who is not as finically stable and is struggling in different ways. This particular family also has a genetic disorder and finds out their fetus also carries the genetic disorder. This could cause this particular family more stress than others. One of the parents could also be struggling with the same genetic disorder as the fetus. This could cause the parents to decide they do not want the child to go through the same challenges they had to go through. Instead of having their child, they decide to terminate the fetus. 

Dr. Jim Mumper has evaluated the pros and cons of genetic screening. For the pro side he found that a few benefits of taking the test is that people can find out if they carry the genetic disorder and from this point they can take the next step in finding their correct plan of treatment. He also found that finding out if you have a genetic disorder can be a stress reliever because you let go of the “fear of the unknown.” Lastly if you have found out you carry a genetic disorder from the genetic screening, you are then able change your lifestyle to accommodate or fix the disorder (Jim Mumper).

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Dr. Mumper also found some cons of genetic screening. Genetic screening test can be very expressive. This can be a very big challenge especially for people that cannot afford it. Another con is that many stressors can come from a positive, negative, or inadequate test result. Many times the disorder may not reach its full potential (Jim Mumper). Since humans tend to worry about the unknown or things they can not control, this can become a very big stressor.

Every mind is different and we all think different ways. A couple that may need to make this kind of decision regarding genetic screening may have their own opinions and may have to compromise regarding their child. Genetic screening lets you see a peak of what your child’s like could look like. Some may be fine with what they find, and others may not. Both arguments have valid points. Their can never really be a side who is correct. Every family has a right to their own opinion even if others do not agree. One thing that it comes down to in the end is what kind of life the parents do or do not want for their child.

In conclusion, the decision of doing a genetic screening needs to be taken seriously when parents are making the decision of terminating or keeping the fetus. The final decision is 100% up to the parents, but needs careful consideration since the genetic screening test has not proven to be perfectly accurate. It is a risk  people have to be willing to take. What would you do?

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"Monthly blood test time" by tyfn is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

"fab-2" by chimimexx is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

"19 week ultrasound" by rshannonsmith is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

"Headache" by Peter Hellberg is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.