Genetic Screening

This post-comment is in response to what I read at http://www.carlonline.blogspot.com/



Despite the issue of whether or not we should be playing God with embryos (or at what point do we start playing God); I think an area of concern of mine is parents choosing embryos based on their own personal preferences and not what is in the best interest of the ‘child to be’.

A case could be made that just because the technology is there does not mean it should be used to its full extent. Perhaps a ‘list,’ for a lack of a better term, of disabilities that would not cause serious impairment to the quality of life should be made, and if a disability is on that ‘list’ then the implantation should be allowed with (and not to the exclusion of) normal embryos (to allow probability and fate to take it course): random selection of the approved embryos (including both normal and disability) could be used to decide which embryos are actually to be implanted. The question then becomes how to create such a list including realizing the quality of life of a child is partially based of the financial wealth of the child’s parent and the implementation practice of the list (i.e., taking into account whether or not a particular couple could afford a child with a disability).

Still another concern of mind with these screening practices (regardless if the aim is to assure or eliminate a genetic characteristic) is what occurs if a child, by perhaps a some small chance, does not turn out how the parents desire. Will the parents be allowed to put the child up for an adoption; do the parents’ financial obligations end with the adoption, etc.?

Another issue is if people are able creating children without genetic imperfections is the environmental variable (i.e., nature vs. nurture) enough to make things fair for those born without genetic screening: granted screening is one thing and creating imperfection (or genetic superiority) is another.