Question

What are some of the ethical issues surrounding genetic counseling? Surrounding prenatal testing? Give an example of a teratogen and how it can affect a fetus in the womb as well as later in life. Choose a specific trait and give an example of the environmental and genetic influences that may contribute to that trait being expressed? How do doctors assess the health of a newborn? Describe the scale. Name and describe 2 reflexes newborns are born with. Name 2 early learning capabilities of newborns. Describe the process of habituation. Give an example of a social interaction between newborns and parents.
Can somebody help me with these questins please

Answer 1

General ethical issues:

• Autonomy: A patient must have complete independence while making a decision. A counsellor should function solely as a guide.
• Veracity: A patient should be presented with all possible choices and courses of action that are available to him/her. He/she should also be educated about the consequences of the same.
• Informed consent: A thorough consent must be obtained from the patients before any test or procedure is performed. In case of a minor, consent should be obtained from the parents/guardians. Written and signed forms are usually required for access to medical records, clinical photographs, genetic tests and DNA storage.
• Confidentiality: The data obtained from test results as well as what is discussed during the consultation process should be kept private. Only under exceptional circumstances can confidentiality be breached – for example, when a particular outcome can cause harm to the patient or people around the patient.

Prenatal Diagnosis:

• Foetal sex: This brings forward the dilemma whether a counsellor should respect the autonomy of the patient’s decisions of wanting to know their child’s sex given that there is a possibility for the patient to use this information to abort the child if the sex is undesirable?
• Findings of potentially harmful situations: If an abnormality is detected in a prenatal diagnosis, there is a high probability of the patient opting for an abortion creating a dilemma. One would also need to consider if a complete explanation would cause psychological harm and damage the morale of the patient.
• Ascertaining the significance of laboratory findings: Genetic counsellors may sometimes experience genuine doubt with respect to the authenticity of test findings. At a juncture wherein it is too late to repeat a test or procedure, what should the patients be communicated?
• False paternity: A genetic counsellor may have access to several family secrets, including the possibility of a false paternity. The option left to the discretion of the counsellor is now either partial or complete deception.