trisomy 21
Who decides?
(from Wikipedia.org)Down syndrome, Down's syndrome, or trisomy 21
is a chromosomal disorder caused by the presence of all or part of an
extra 21st chromosome. Down syndrome is associated with some impairment
of cognitive ability and physical growth as well as facial appearance.
Down syndrome can be identified during pregnancy or at birth. Individuals with Down syndrome tend to have a lower than average cognitive ability, often ranging from mild to moderate developmental disabilities. A small number have severe to profound mental disability. The incidence of Down syndrome is estimated at 1 per 800 to 1,000 births, although these statistics are heavily influenced by the age of the mother.
Health concerns for individuals with Down syndrome include a higher risk for congenital heart defects, gastroesophageal reflux disease, recurrent ear infections, obstructive sleep apnea, and thyroid dysfunctions.
Early childhood intervention, screening for common problems, medical treatment where indicated, a conducive family environment, and vocational training can improve the overall development of children with Down syndrome. Although some of the physical genetic limitations of Down syndrome cannot be overcome, education and proper care will improve quality of life.
Amniocentesis is a procedure that requires a withdrawal of a sample of amniotic fluid (fluid contains surface cells from the fetus) in the period of 16 – 30 weeks of gestation.
Chorionic villus sampling is a procedure whereby a sample of the fetal tissue partial buried in the wall of the uterus is removed. This occurs in the period 8 – 10 weeks into the pregnancy. It secures a tiny sample of cells that are actively dividing and can be analyzed quickly.
A karotype a an enlarged photograph showing the homologous chromosomes (side by side) which allows for analysis of genetic disorders such as an extra 21st chromosome I Down’s syndrome.
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Consider the following::
1. Due
to the low incidence of Down syndrome, a vast majority of early screen
positives are false. Since false positives typically prompt an
amniocentesis to confirm the result, and the amniocentesis carries a
small risk of inducing miscarriage, there is a slight risk of
miscarrying a healthy fetus.
2. A
2002 literature review of elective abortion rates found that 91–93% of
pregnancies in the United States with a diagnosis of Down syndrome
were terminated.
3. A
1998 study of Finnish doctors found that "Only very few, pediatricians
somewhat more often, thought that Down's syndrome is not a good enough
reason for pregnancy termination, but more (15-21%) thought that
current prenatal screenings in general are (partly) based on eugenic
thinking.”
4. Some
members of the disability rights movement "believe that public support
for prenatal diagnosis and abortion based on disability contravenes
the movement's basic philosophy and goals."
5. The
additional support needs of people with Down syndrome can still pose a
challenge to parents and families. Although living with family is
preferable to institutionalization, people with Down syndrome often
encounter patronizing attitudes and discrimination in the wider
community.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Your assignment is to respond to this prompt in two or three paragraphs. Publish your response as a comment to this post.
“Should genetic testing and intervention be required for pregnant women who are at-risk for certain genetic disorders?
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Thanks to modern technology, it is possible (via techniques such as karyotyping) for a mother to determine if her baby will be born with a disorder. Despite these test not being 100% accurate, some mothers still decide to terminate their pregnancies or undergo certain treatments, which some people disagree with. However, the potential that this possibility holds is far greater than the downsides that it may cause.
ReplyDeleteMothers who are already at risk for genetic disorders should be required to undergo genetic testing so that they can be better prepared should their child have be born with a disorder. If the mother knows months beforehand that her baby will have a disorder and decides to continue with the pregnancy, she and her partner will be able to make the necessary preparations and arrangements so that the baby can be able maximize his or her potential from day one. On the other side of the spectrum, testing should be done because if it turns out that the baby will not be affected, the mother will surely feel a lot more relaxed and happier, which will probably positively impact her pregnancy.
Julian A.
I believe women should not be required to have that intervention because of the potential risks it could bring. Some dangers are miscarriage among others. Some women would not mind having a child with a genetic disorder; therefore, they would not need that intervention.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I believe that a woman should have the right to choose whether she wants the intervention or not. For example, some women would not be able to support a child with a disability. Economically, children with a genetic disorder are very expensive to support. Some women would probably want to do the test to know whether the child has a genetic disorder to look at their options. Depending on the certain situation women would want to take that test but it should not be required.
Blanca M
I believe that women should not be required for genetic testing but they should be highly recommended on doing so because it would take off the doubts if their baby is going to be healthy or if they should be prepared if the baby ends up having something (such as Down Syndrome). Having these tests would facilitate the life during the time of the pregnancy.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, the use of intervention, I do not think it is justified to intervene on a pregnancy if the baby has a genetic disorder. However, I do believe that if the baby does have some sort of terminal disease. Then I believe it is up to the parents and the doctor to see what should be done. Either terminate the pregnancy or take the chances to see what happens with the baby.
In conclusion, genetic testing should be done optionally but intervention should only be done in really special occasions.
Santi Z
I believe that a mother who is at risk of having a child with certain genetic disorders should have a choice to have tests done or not. It should definitely not be an obligation. This is because if the mother lives in a country that doesn't cover medical insurance, it would cost a lot of money to test for these disorders and it is possible that she can not afford it. In addition, it can potentially damage the baby and that should be a risk that the mother wants to take, not by obligation.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, if the test comes out that the child has a genetic disorder, the mother would be able to get prepared to accommodate her child. In addition, having this test done would allow the mother to decide what to do, if her and her partner are not in the position economically to support the child and want to terminate the pregnancy or if they are prepared to take care of it. Taking these test will make them a lot more relaxed knowing what is coming.
In conclusion, the mother should have a choice as to if she wants to have the tests done on her or not.
Elisa R.
I believe that requiring pregnant woman to test their unborn child for a certain genetic disorder is not necessary, though they should have a choice to do so. there would be no point in forcing someone to test their child for a possible disorder.
ReplyDeleteI believe it would be a good idea to be well informed of your child's disorders so the mother can decide whether to abort the child or to keep it. However, it should not be a doctor who decides whether the baby inside of someone else should be tested. It is the parents choice whether to test the child for any disorders.
I also believe that making a woman test her child would give the mother to a choice to keep her child or abort it, rather than realizing the child's disorder after it is born and putting the kid up for adoption.
Maia D.
Trisomy 21 Blog Post
ReplyDeleteWith the advanced modern technology we have, it is nearly unbelievable that doctors and soon-to-be parents could have the possibility of knowing whether or not their child will be born with a genetic disorder, and if so, what it consists of. Thanks to various techniques such as karyotyping, amniocentesis or chorionic villus, it is possible today for parents to see beforehand if their child will be born with genetic disorders such as Trisomy 21, or more commonly known as Down Syndrome. However, some of the tests required to obtain such information may cause fatal harm to the baby, so a common controversy to this development is whether or not should women who have a predisposition to genetically carried disorders should be obliged to take these tests. I believe that the parents should have a choice of whether or not to have these tests done, for they are the ones who will help him or her grow up to the best of their ability.
Although not too common, genetic disorders do occur and can dramatically change the lives of a baby and the family he or she is born into. There are families that can actually economically afford to sustain a child born with Down Syndrome and give him or her the best they can offer in terms of living conditions and healthcare. The mothers who are in this situation should thus have a choice to have the tests or not because they should be able to make the decision of whether or not they are prepared to take care of a child born with Trisomy 21. However, some parents cannot bear the expense or time of having a child who suffers from both physical and mental handicaps. Because of this the parents should be able to decide if they would like to have the baby, no matter what the state he or she is in, or make the hard decision of terminating the pregnancy.
Thus, parents should have the freedom to decide for themselves whether they would like to know what condition the baby is in before it is born, knowing of course the consequences of carrying out the tests. Some parents might decide that they do not want to know because, whatever the case, they will be able to take care of the baby and support him or her throughout everything. Others, though, might decide they want to know beforehand if their child will be born handicapped because they may not be able to satisfy his or her needs. After all, it is the baby’s family who will determine his or her living conditions, so it should be up to them to decide if they would like to know during the pregnancy what situation their child will be born into.
Camila B.
I firmly believe that women should not have to undergo genetic testing whilst pregnant. Not only is it dangerous and can risk miscarriages but it addition it also is not always correct as it can produce false positives and has in the past. Based off this genetic testing women are being seen to opt for abortion. What if it were a false positive? The women will never know if terminated a healthy baby. I also am not for abortion in general, let alone aborting a baby because he or she has down syndrome. I have met children and adults with Down Syndrome and they were incredible people, I could never imagine them not having ever even been born just because of their disability.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it is unnatural. Who are we to decide which baby deserves to be brought to this earth and which doesn’t? Every time it seems as if science is pre-determining life. Between the human genome and this genetic testing, I stand even firmer with my belief that everything natural such as disabilities happens for a reason and that trying to predetermine your life can and probably will lead to unseen consequences.
ANNA VDL
I don’t believe genetic testing and intervention should be required for women who are at risk for certain genetic disorders. First of all, it is a woman’s right to decide whether or not they should take that test; therefore, it cannot be required. Also, many times when a mother is found to be at risk of having a child with a genetic disorder the prediction is wrong. Giving that performing amniocentesis has risks including miscarriage they should not be done unless the mom wants to perform it. Moreover, doing this test on every single pregnant woman is a unnecessary risk that should not be taken.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, the number of abortions would rise dramatically. Since more women would be taking this test than before more women would know about their child’s disorder before giving birth. Based on certain statistics many doctors believe Down syndrome is a good enough reason to abort. Knowing this we can predict that many doctors may recommend abortion or support a mother who is willing to abort the child because of their condition. In conclusion, genetic testing and intervention should not be required for women who are at risk for certain genetic disorders because they have the right to decide if they want to take the test and it would increase the number of abortions.
Carmen A.
Genetic testing and intervention should not be required or
ReplyDeleteimposed for multiple reason.
One reason is the fact that the decision is entirely
up to the parents to decide. They can not be imposed
to terminate their own child. That would be a violation
of the rights they hold as a citizen.
Furthermore knowing that the genetic testing may lead to
a miscaraige, it becomes a greater violation.
Neverthless, they are not to be imposed for tests
but they should be able to hold a choice.
This is because if the mother is not economically stable
then she might not be able to bear the cost of the treatment
of her child. Or she might not want her child
to suffer from a disorder after birth and bear discrimination from the society
Hence the mother should not be imposed to do genetic testing
she should be given a choice, and the procedures should be
conducted under her will.
Manya K.
I believe pregnant women should not have genetic testing and intervention who are at-risk for certain genetic disorders. One of the reason is because of the limitation of the low incidence of Down syndrome. The majority of early screen positives are not confirmed. Therefore, of the false positives typically prompt an amniocentesis to confirm the result which will lead to a bad sign.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, according to a quote "believe that public support for prenatal diagnosis and abortion based on disability contravenes the movement's basic philosophy and goals." (blog 1), this shows the fact that many people around the world are having this testing very negatively.
-Byung H.
Genetic testing and intervention should not be required for women who are at-risk for certain genetic disorders. In my opinion, it should be encouraged, but not forced. Ultimately, the woman is the one who is giving birth to the baby, so it should be no one else’s decision but hers. One reason why genetic testing should not be forced is that the mother simply may not want to do so. Secondly, the cost of having genetic testing done can be very high, so if the woman does not have health insurance, she may not be able to afford it. Thirdly, the genetic testing does have certain risks that could potentially hurt the baby, and the mother should not be forced to take those risks.
ReplyDeleteThe woman should be able to decide whether she wants to have an intervention or not. She will be the one who will raise the child, and some women do not mind having a disabled child. If the woman is capable of raising the child, she should do so. However, if the baby has a terminal disease and it will not survive after being born, an intervention could be justified to make the pregnancy easier for the mother.
Iines K.
Once more, this question debates the moral dilemma of whether we have the right to decide the fate of a human being. Through science, the human race has come to test the limits of morality and defy nature. Although I am a firm critic of abortion, I believe that when disabilities are involved the issue is not black or white. Yet who are we to decide to terminate the life of any human being based on the fact that they will not be able to contribute to society to their fullest potential? I believe that women should not be required to conduct genetic testing when pregnant, yet they may choose to, and act accordingly if their health is at risk.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is quite impressive to be able to know whether our children will have genetic orders, and that can be very useful in preparing for the consequences of having that child. Morally, I feel as though it is not right to conduct an abortion based on the fact that a child will have Trisomy 21. I have had personal interaction with individuals affected by this, and they deserve to be on this planet just as much as I do. Another story is if the health of the mother will be affected by having that child. If this case occurs, it is the mother's right to abort to avoid possible fatal effects to her health.
Jaime M.
I believe that women should not be required to have genetic testing and intervention although the woman should have the choice to take the test or not. Women who are not at risk for genetic disorders should not be required to take the test because possible risks. First of all, these tests often lead miscarriage, and can give false results.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, many doctors would encourage these women to abort. Many people believe that pregnancies should be terminated if the pregnancy is diagnosed with Down syndrome. I believe that pregnancies should not be terminated just because the baby might be born with a disability. Nevertheless, in my opinion the women should have the choice to decide if they want an intervention. If the women are capable of raising a disabled child, they should continue with the pregnancy. In conclusion, an intervention and genetic testing should not be required but the women should always have the choice to take the test.
Irem G.
I do not think that if a woman has the chance of having a baby with a genetic disorder means it should be required for her to get tested. If the parent(s) is capable of giving the child a good life and that means doing whatever it takes to make sure that the child is taken care of best as possible. If there is most likely not a good life for the child then I do think that intervention may be required. A child with down syndrome will need special care so they have the best possible life, and if this is not given to that child it could be a very rough life.
ReplyDeleteReece H.
I think that a mother that is at risk of getting a child with a certain disorder should not be required to have a tests done or not, but have the choice of getting one or not. It should not be required though, because if the mother lives somewhere where it might not be covered by insure. It would cost a lot to get a test like this done, and it is possible that some could not afford it. Also, there is always the risk that the baby could be damaged and it should only be exposed to this risk if the mother chooses to do so.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if the mother did get tested and the results would show that she will have a child with a genetic disorder she could prepare that she will have to accompany the child for the rest of her life. It would also give her the opportunity to decide if she wants to terminate the pregnancy because she does not have the money to support the child for the rest of its life. Having a test will make them feel more prepared for what is coming, or give them the opportunity to prepare for it.
In conclusion I believe that tests should not be mandatory but a choice that is made by the mother.
Isabella B.
Abortion has been a heavily debated issue for a long time. In a more conservative environment it is regarded as something negative. They believe if an individual has made a bad decision about having a baby they should deal with it. On the other hand, by looking at the other extreme we find that these people believe it is a great improvement in technology and should be used. However, in between the two there is a gray area. If the baby will have a disorder should the mom be able to abort?
ReplyDeleteIn Trisome 21 or Down Syndrome, there are ways of knowing if the baby will have a fluctuation in the 21st chromosome. There are some cons to this that should not be overlooked. The first is the uncertainty of the results. Because the tests are done at an early phase in pregnancy, sometimes the results are not always true. Secondly, one of the methods that is used, Amniocentesis, may lead to the termination of a pregnancy. The major pro is that having a kid with down syndrome can completely change your life and the child’s life. Not everyone accepts this idea and socially it could be difficult for a kid with this disease.
All in all, I believe that women over a certain age should have a choice to use this technology. They should be well-informed to make a good decision. There is a chance you will have a miscarriage of a normal human being. You should not be forced to do these tests as the cons are severe. You should also have a choice because knowing this information can help make a pregnancy better and change your life completely. In my opinion, having a choice is the best thing to do!
Daniel M.
In the last century there have been many medical advancements that have been able to improve our lives. One of these is a test a pregnant woman can take, which is called karyotyping, and is used to see if the fetus has any kind of disorder. Although there is a risk that this test could produce a miscarriage, it can tell if the baby will have a disorder like trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome).
ReplyDeleteI believe that woman should have a choice on whether to take this test because, after all, the baby is hers and she is responsible for him. In addition, a mother should have the right to know if her baby will have a disorder so she is prepared when the baby is born it will not be a surprise. Although women should have the choice, I do not believe that it should be obligatory since some people might not have the money for the test or simply don't want to know.
Karen Diaz
Nowadays, thanks to modern technology and science, women have the possibility of finding out whether or not their baby will be born with a disorder or not (via karyotyping, for example). Though these tests may not be fully, 100% accurate, many to-be mothers decide to terminate their pregnancies, or undergo some treatments, due to the results. Though I firmly believe that no fetus should be aborted, it is not a matter of black or white, easily decided, when we are talking about disabilities, genetic disorders. I do not think women should be required to undergo genetic testing and intervention when pregnant. Of course, they should be allowed to if they so choose, and act accordingly if there is a risk to their health.
ReplyDeleteI believe that it is very impressive for women to be able to determine whether their children will have genetic disorders, and these tests may prove to be extremely useful when preparing for ‘consequences’ to having the child. I do not think that it is neither fair nor in our right to conduct an abortion solely based on the fact that a child will have Down syndrome, or Trisomy 21. Of course, it is a whole different story, and decision for the future mother to make, if this said mother’s health were at risk. Then, and only then, do I believe the mother should avoid fatal effects to her health by having the right to abort.
MatildeT C.
“Should genetic testing and intervention be required for pregnant women who are at-risk for certain genetic disorders?
ReplyDeleteI think that women shouldn't have to undergo this test but they should have a choice to, in order to know whats coming her way and if she and her partner is prepared to take such an important responsibility. Some people don't care if their child has a disorder but they should have the choice to know how to continue. These tests aren't 100% accurate which would mean that a women could terminate a baby that didnt have this disorder.
Abortion is a very important issue with many strong opinions on both sides, so i believe that a women should know whether her baby will have a disorder not so that she terminates him/her but so that she chooses the best option for the child. These tests have many risks that the people undergoing it should consider such as miscarriages, if the parents can afford and have the time to take care of a child with a disorder they shouldn't be able to termite him/her.
Camila M
Everyone had different views and opinions of things. There are some people who after finding out they are carrying a baby with Down Syndrome considers and picks the option of abortion. There are other people who want to have the baby no matter what.
ReplyDeleteConsidering this I believe that genetic testing and intervention should not be required for pregnant women who are at-risk for certain genetic disorders. Nowadays we have such an advanced technology that we are able to make huge medical advancements. One of those is to be able to determine desease before a child is born. This allows mothers to know what the future of their babies will be like before they are born; however, i dont think it should be required, i believe it should be optional. The parents should have the choice of taking the test to find out or not. I believe it could benefit a lot to know something like this but we have to respect peoples opinions and choices and this choice should be optional.
Cristina C.
In the past decades medicine and technology have evolved for the greater good of the people. Women around the globe are suffering the pain of realizing that their offspring will have a health or mental disorder. The most common of these is trisomy 21 (down sindrome). In the US 1 out of 800 births result in the child having Down Sindrome.
ReplyDeleteThe Big question should medical ntervention and treatment be required if a pregnant woman has certain risk of genetic disorders. These processes in my humble opinion should be open to any pregnant women aroung the world, cost free. These different methods would allow women to foresee their baby, and maybe to get guidance or aid. The big question is should women that know they have a offspring with mental or health problems be able to abort. This would be a hard decision to take. This would be a tough choice for young couples around the world.
To conclude I want to state that diffrent interventions and testing should be open to everyone, who suffer the risk of having a baby with mental problems. And that abortion should be controlled depending on the severity of the case.
Ignacio P.B
For some women, they believe that having a child with a certain genetic disorder is not a good idea and usually go for abortion. In 2002, abortion rates for children with Down syndrome (a.k.a Trisomy 21) are in between 91-93%. Other people believe that having a child with this disorder is not a good enough reason to abort.
ReplyDeleteWomen should have the right to have genetic testing, but no intervention is necessary. Making this decision will determine whether a child lives or dies no matter the state of the baby. Nowadays there are many things available for children with these issues. I agree that it might be expensive, but at least you wouldn’t need to kill a human being in the process. There are also many organizations that can help anyone with special needs. Women must be allowed to be prepared in advance if they are going to have a daughter/son with a genetic disorder. This being said, women who have a child with genetic disorder should not go for abortion because even though some people might not call it ‘killing’ a human being, but it clearly is taking somebody’s life away.
Blanca B.
Once again, abortion takes place and it's different points of view. Genetic testing and intervention should not be required for pregnant women who have risks of creating a child with down syndrome.
ReplyDeleteFirst, the screen positives are not 100% accurate that means if a woman aborts a child because in the screen positive, if the fetus is suspected to have Trisomy 21 and the woman aborts then she is maybe killing a fetus that doesn't have a problem. Moreover, people with down syndrome have the right to live as any other humans because they can also be extraordinary as any other human. Finally, amniocentesis carries risk of creating a miscarriage. In the other hand, I think parents should think to preform this test to adapt themselves to their future baby.
Alex P
The subject of abortion brings endless discussion nearly everyday in society. To start, it is better to discuss the topic of abortion in general. Many argue that women have no right to take away a person's right to live--yet they deny them the basic right of deciding what to do with their bodies. What people do not take in account is that the people that wish to get an abortion are not only mothers from MTV's "16 and Pregnant", they're different types of women who could very well not have the resources to raise a child, been raped, or simply not want a child. A fetus does not feel pain, or think. Once a woman brings the child into the world, he or she will. If a woman cannot care for the child, you may ask yourself, which option was better.
ReplyDeleteOn the subject of Trisomy 21, my beliefs stand firmly as they do above. It. Is. The. Woman's. Choice. I, personally, would not abort if I found out my child would have/could have Down Syndrome. But then again, I have never been in that situation. There are women, and men--families--that don't think they are ready for the consequences that having a mentally challenged child would bring. And in that case, it is their choice and their choice only. They should be able to take tests, learn about everything they can, and have an abortion if they wish to. They should have a choice, because is that too much ask?
It is incredible that nowadays, as advanced as the world thinks it is, it is still ready to deny a woman her right to choose what goes on in her own body.
Rocio C
Personally, I don't believe these tests should be required. Although they do give fairly accurate information that can help a lot of people from having unexpected down syndrome children, they restrict personal rights and can cause other effects. I don't believe that any women should be forced into any kind of testing when pregnant. Having a child is a very natural thing and there are many views on it. These tests do not fit in everyone's views and being unable to have a baby completely naturally by choice, I think, is wrong. Although i don't support these tests as requirements, I do believe that they should be encouraged. Whether the parents decide to keep the child or have an abortion, knowing if the child has a condition is always a good thing. I also believe that this should be a free process since the government is potentially saving the parents from having an unwanted down syndrome child.
ReplyDeleteCooper D.
Genetic testing and intervention should be a choice, not a requirement, for pregnant women who are at-risk for certain genetic disorders. I have the same exact thoughts on abortion. Many women around the world have many reasons for taking certain actions and it should be their choice whether they do so or not.
ReplyDeleteI think this because modern technology, such as karyotyping, is not one hundred percent accurate and can cause some women to be pressured to abort or even have a miscarriage. Some women will want the choice of not knowing if the child has a disorder. In my personal opinion, however, I believe it would be extremely useful to know if your child has a disorder before birth so that the mother can determine if she is economically stable enough to have the child or not.
But I am only one female on this planet so I have no right to make every other woman’s decision for them. There for there should be no requirement for genetic testing and intervention for pregnant women who are at risk for genetic disorders.
Marina G
I do not think the idea of bringing in genetic testing and intervention is a solution. Because first of all, we still have to discuss if the abortion is legal or not, moral or inmoral, instead of discussing the genetic prevention. However, in my opinion I think for those people who wants to abort just because the baby has a genetic, I think it is the womans choice, but still there is an issue of killing a person. Me, personally I would not care having a baby with genetic disorder. In the other hand, some people will not have the baby because their familiers are not ready for the consequences and they consider them as a burden more than a child.
ReplyDeleteHao C
I believe that genetic testing and intervention should not be required for pregnant women who are at risk of genetic disorders because they should have the right to decide to be tested or not. Also, the prenatal screenings do not assure the existence of the down syndrome, and in fact, "majority of early screen positives are false". Although many mothers decide to terminate the pregnancy after realizing that they are positive in carrying a child with down syndrome, in my opinion, this should be controlled since it is abortion. Every life has its own right to live, and being a parent cannot take this away.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I think that it is not bad to be tested and know if the baby is positive in having a down syndrome to be prepared for it. But as I said before, terminating the pregnancy because of this reason cannot be acceptable. Even though the child will go through difficulties in people's attitude towards her/him, I believe this is a problem that our society should resolve but not a reason for a pregnancy termination, which can be equally said as killing a life.
Min C.
Down's syndrome, or trisomy 21 is a chromosomal disorder caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome.
ReplyDeleteI believe that, pregnant women should not be required to get genetic tests to see if their child will be born with a disorder, although, they should be given the option to test if they wish too. I also believe that every woman has the right to know and abort her child if she thinks she is not fit to take care of it. They have the right to choose if they want to or not, and it should not be the choice for the doctor to make. The doctor isn't caring the child, she is. It should be the parents choice if they want to test if their child is born with a genetic disorder or not.
Cassia E.
Although I stand completely against abortion, I think genetic tests and therefore finding out if a couple ´s future baby may acquire some type of genetic disorder could have several benefits, as it could encourage better preparation and advanced information which could help the couple. I think going through genetic tests should be a choice.
ReplyDeleteGenetic tests could benefit a great amount a couple, as it could find earlier on the path of pregnancy that he or she is going to acquire a type of genetic disorder. With this information, the couple could now make the right preparation in order to take care of the baby to it ´s greatest capacity. Unfortunetly, havinbg a by with some type of genetic disorder or having a baby without one is not the same, therefore acknowledging that your future baby may have a genetic disorder will help. With this warning, the parents will make sure the baby achieves their full potential and capacity from the start of her or his life.
On the other hand, abortion should never be allowed based on the fact that the future child may acquire a genetic disorder. It is morally correct to believe that a person with a genetic disorder has the same right than a person without one to live on this planet. However, if a couple gets told that their baby will have a terminal disease, I belive it is up to the parents to make the right decision, basing themselves that it is confirmed by tests and specialists that the disease is definetly a terminal one.
Diego M-C
Our medical science has came to a level that mothers are able to determine whether her baby will be born with a disorder. Although some might argue that this kind of testing would lead to more abortions; I believe all mothers have rights to know if her baby will be born healthy. That is because not everyone can afford superior environment to their disabled child. In other words, not everyone is wealthy enough to provide necessary support for their handicapped child. I strongly trust it is better for a mother to terminate her pregnancy if she thinks her child will suffer from lack of support. In fact, in my opinion, it is worse if a mother abandons her child after giving birth. In addition, even though a mother is actually able to manage all those kind of payments, I think it is better for her to have time to prepare for their disabled child. Moreover, if a mother gets to know her child would be born fine, she would have less stress concerning about her baby's health.
ReplyDeleteGiven these points, I believe mothers should be permitted to take the test. It is almost certain that many mothers would like to know about their baby's health beforehand for their future, and the baby's future. As a matter of fact, this test should never be obligatory since it is not 100 percent sure, and might put someone in a difficult situation whether to stop her pregnancy.
Daseul K.
Like always, science always causes a lot of controversy with an average person’s morals and what not. Many fields of science and the experiments themselves go against many traditional beliefs like this one. I personally do not think that genetic testing and intervention should be a requirement for a woman. Yet, I do believe that the woman should have the option to take the test or not. The test could help some people in the way that you would be able to tell if the child will be born with disorders or not. If the baby is predicted to be born with a disorder, the parents could start preparing for its arrival from an early start. Every woman should have the right to make their own choices like any other individual so being forced to take a test is against many people’s rights. Another con to the testing is that there have been times where the prediction was wrong which could lead to all different type of problems. Also, this test would rise the number of abortions. Some woman that are pregnant wouldn’t be able to raise a child with a disorder for economical reasons. Therefore, pushing towards an abortion. In conclusion, genetic testing and intervention should not be a requirement for a woman, it should be a choice.
ReplyDeleteVera S.
In my opinion, taking a genetic testing is should not be required to all women because that is something that they are going to decide, and we can not ignore their will.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I am also agree women to take an intervention because parents decide the abortion without knowing the genetic disability as deeply as doctors especially parents who has an economical problem for having a kid. Furthermore, to have a kid with the genetic disability is not easy thing for parents in physically and mentally. Perhaps the intervention might helps parents to know the risks.
Konomi U.
Now a days, technology has made possible for parents to deduce wether their baby will have any genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome. This is certainly a great development for human society that could definitely give many benefits. For instance, it could help parents to know beforehand about their baby's disorder and would let them prepare it with enough time. However, we cannot deny that it could also cause some problems among the parents. Due to the pressure of knowing that they will have a child with genetic disorder they could have abortion to prevent that from happening. Abortion is an immoral action, since we are not giving the right for a child to live. Also, these types of testing are not developed enough to determine perfectly at 100% if they will really have a disorder or not.
ReplyDeleteHowever, as mentioned before, genetic testing also has its benefits that could really help parents to prepare how to raise a child with Down syndrome. In addition, although it is true that abortion is immoral, as the law permits it, parents still have the right of deciding wether they are going to have a child with disorder or not. That is why I believe that having genetic testing and intervention should be not required or mandatory among pregnant women, but should be their own decision.
Yeri C.
I believe that genetic testing and intervention should be required for pregnant women who are at-risk for certain genetic disorders because although I’m against abortion in most of the cases is not fair either to the parents nor the baby because I know (personal experience) that mental disorders like down syndrome are really though to deal with and in the end of the day the person with this disorder mostly will no have their dreams come true. Its really sad that people with this disadvantage cannot live a happy and normal life like others and thats why I think this testing should be appropriate for each pregnant women.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, the decision to choose an abortion or not is for the parents and its totally fine if they decide to have the baby, but what Im saying is just an opinion. To conclude, genetic testing should be required for pregnant women who are at-risk for certain genetic disorders because parens have to know whether they want to live a normal life or a difficult challenging life if the results of this tests show a really though to deal with disorder.
Arturo S.
As several other times, this prompt relates to the moral dilemma of abortions and the freedom of a woman to decide the fate of their children. As some of my other peers mentioned, the topic of mental disorders is not a black or white matter, because it will vary depending on the people it affects. I believe that it is fascinating how advanced science and medicine has become that doctors now can tell your child's future. It is a great opportunity for a family to prepare for the "consequences" of having a mentally ill child, and as an effect maybe even ameliorating their future lives.
ReplyDeleteAs everyone probably knows, having a mentally challenged child will cause financial, time and effort difficulties within a family; however, I firmly believe that a mental disease is not valid reason to abort. And yet, who decides what reason is valid to abort? That is the reason why it is such a touchy subject in society. I do understand, although, that there may be families who know will not be capable of sustaining a child with these types of "problems." However, I do believe that if it were not for the abortions, these tests would only bring positive help to a child, by ameliorating their future life with the illness. After all, I believe that is the most important thing. However, I do think it has to be up to the family weather they want to know their child's future or not.
Claudia M
For a woman during pregnancy, i think that genetic testing should be required. First, it can help the parents take precautions to the birth so that the child is in better care. If the parents find out that their child will have a disability, then they can prepare for future problems and obstacles. If the mother is told that her child is healthy, then she can stay calm.
ReplyDeleteAlthough i am against abortion, i think that there are circumstances around the family that people may not know about, and maybe they may not be able to support a child with a disability. By knowing the condition that their child is in, they can prepare for the baby's better future.
“Should genetic testing and intervention be required for pregnant women who are at-risk for certain genetic disorders?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion I do not think that a woman during pregnancy should be genetically tested. I think this because if they are tested one of the answers that doctors might give them is that the child they're carrying might might have down syndrome.
Thanks to statistics it has been proven that 91-93% of woman who are told that the baby they are carrying might be born with down syndrome opt for abortion.The genetic test is no always correct, meaning that if the doctor tells the mother that they are carrying a child with down syndrome and its not true and the mother opts for adoption, a healthy baby is basically being killed. In my opinion abortion is never the answer, someone should not be able to decide the life or death of another human being, they should be able to decide for their own.
Carlota L.
In my personal opinion I feel that testing and intervention shouldn't be required for any pregnant women. In my opinion the only thing this test causes is insecurity in mothers that are carrying a baby with a genetic disorder, in other words it makes mothers doubt their capabilities of being able to raise a genetic disabled kid. This takes us back to the debate that is still being argued today, which is pro-life or pro-choice. "A 2002 literature review of elective abortion rates found that 91–93% of pregnancies in the United States with a diagnosis of Down syndrome were terminated." this quote shows how these tests affect women's decision to abort kids who have genetic disorder. Another reason on why these tests shouldn't be required is because it is said to carry a small risk of miscarriage, this gives a slight risk of miscarrying a healthy fetus. These are two of many reason on the risks and disadvantages of taking these tests, women are suppose to love and care for their offspring even if he is 'special' or not or even if it was a mistake. It is in a mother's nature to care and love for their child no matter what, and this test only makes women doubt of their abilities to be mothers.
ReplyDeleteIlona P.
Genetic testing and intervention should not be required for pregnant women who are at risk for certain genetic disorders. What a person decides to do with their body is something that should be left in the hands of that person. If a pregnant women chooses to go through genetic testing, then she should be granted the opportunity, but should not be forced into doing something that is against her own will.
ReplyDeleteIf we take the topic of abortion, I feel that it is a right that should be granted to pregnant women if they do not wish to have a child, whatever the situation may be. When it comes to a disorder such as trisomy 21, 91-93% women chose to abort in the United States in 2002. This could be considered a negative fact as it means that many women are giving up the lives of their possible children because of the diagnosed condition. However, we do not know the conditions of the woman which influence her choice. For example, a woman may not be in a stable situation (too young, not in good economic conditions, etc.) that will allow her to raise a child, let alone a child with a disorder. Raising a child with trisomy 21 takes a lot of work that some families are not in the situation to give. Whatever the case may be, a woman has a right to make a choice. If she feels that having a child that has been diagnosed with trisomy 21 is not something that she wants, she should be granted the opportunity to abort. Even though some of the testing options could lead to a miscarriage or harm the child, a woman should have the right to make her own decision.
Pregnant women should be granted the opportunity to genetic testing and intervention, but should not be forced to undergo any of this is they chose not to.
Lydia B.
Pregnant Women should not be forced to be geneticaly tested or intervention even if the baby is at risk in getting a genetic disorder. Pregnant women should have the right to decide weather they want to know or not. Many women may consider it unethical and brings the big topic of abortion knowing your baby may come out sick will change things making it a horrible expirence for some woman. I do believe that sometimes it is verry important two know! especialy women who are not in a good place economicaly and that are not living a stable life style. Having a child with sever genetical problems is a life commitment that is emotionaly draining as well as expensive. Women should be able to choose to be in that situation. It depends on the pregnant woman and her beleifs and life style and it is important to give women the freedom to decide what their future will hold.
ReplyDeleteAnna B