Question

Discussion Question 2: Should all newborn babies be required to have genetic (DNA) testing to identify any and all future health issues? Explain. Who should have access to this information?

Rubric

1. You must write a paragraph. A sentence or two is not enough. (at least 5 sentences)

2. You must use scientifically correct information. You may not claim conspiracy theories, or "old wives tales" as truth. You may share personal "funny" or interesting stories related to the opinion topics.

3. Your responses must be based on factual evidence using critical thinking skills. Examples of non factual information: the earth is flat and vaccines are not healthy and climate change is not happening.

Answer 1

The realm of this question mainly pose in the direction of ethicality of the genetic testing and identifying as to where to draw the line. The following are the plausible ethical issues-

1. In conventional medical testing and diagnosis the obtained information is essentially considered as private information. And hence by extension so should the genetic testing information. But dilemma is posed when non consenting babies are concerned.

2. Generation of large data of leading to secondary finding regarding adult onset condition

3. Ethical issue at policy level emerge from the clashing utility between personal and clinical significance

4. Uncertainty about the psychological and social implications that comes with the knowledge of risk status

ACMG (American College of Medical Genetics) band ASHG (American Society of Human Genetics) has recommended that,

regarding secondary findings parents should be informed and provide consent for disclosure, but under urgent and serious threat to child's health the results should be disclosed to the parents nonetheless.

Popular opinion on withholding information until adulthood is reached can avert psychological and social implication.

But the question of "mandating" genetic testing is still up for debate, since PKU diagnosis was made mandatory until parents were given the option to opt out, which a few of them chose.

CRISPR technology is another debate worth topic which is a promising technology to correct the identifies genetic disorder.