Medical Ethics, Patients Rights, and Religious Issues

1
Medical Ethics, Patients Rights, and Religious
Issues

• Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis
• Creating The Perfect Baby
• By Kendall B. Williams, II

2
INTRODUCTION

• Background
• Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis
• Case Study
• Explanation
• Ethical / Moral Issues
• Who is affected?
• Conclusions
• The end

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BACKGROUND

• Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis
• This is a process used to determine genetic
  defects in an embryo before the birth of a child.
  The first child born through this procedure was
  in 1989 and by 1997 around 30 babies have been
  born through this procedure.
• The process is as follows
• Ideally the first step is that family history is
  researched and genetic testing is performed on
  the interested parties.
  
• Woman is given drugs
• In-vitro fertilization methods are used to get an
  egg
  
• Once it has developed into 8 cells, one can be
  extracted and used to develop DNA information
  
• Molecular analysis ensues to gain inheritance
  information
  
• Abnormality-free egg is re-implanted and
  hopefully takes
  

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BACKGROUND (Cont)

• At this time approximately 30 diseases can be
  checked for and diagnosed, including
  
• Achondroplasia
• Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency
• Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency
• Alzheimer Disease(AAP gene)
• Beta Thalassemia
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Epidermolysis Bullosa
• Fanconi Anemia
• Gaucher Disease
• Hemophilia A and B
• Huntington Disease
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Myotonic Dystrophy
• Neurofibromatosis Type I

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CASE STUDY

• LARRY SHANNON
• Have a 4-year old girl (Sally) that has Fanconi
  Anemia
  
• Hole in heart
• No Thumbs
• Impaired kidney problems
• She is not expected to live much longer
• The parents want to have another baby
• Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis (Risks involved)
• Umbilical Cord fluid use for Sally
• Healthy new baby for parents

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CASE STUDY (Cont)

• A team of researchers have been addressed about
  the issue.
  
• A debate ensues about the entire procedure for
  those who have newly entered the group.
  
• The ethicality of the procedure is discussed
• The researchers differ in views which could
  potentially become a problem during the process.
  
• Through these researchers actions a precedent
  will be set for further work done in this field.

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ETHICAL / MORAL ISSUES

• Should anyone be allowed to create the
  genetically perfect baby?
  
• Is it ethically right to give birth to a child
  with the expectation of using them as a possible
  cure for another individual?
  
• Is it fair that this burden has been placed
  solely on the research team?
  
• Are we playing god in engaging in this
  procedure, rather than simply diagnosing the
  possible disease?
  
• Is there a chance that some religious groups and
  extremists could cause a riot if this procedure
  is followed through, therefore setting a
  precedent? If so, what problems could that
  cause?
• What should happen to the in vitro fertilized
  eggs that are not being used?
  
• Might this procedure be viewed as a contribution
  to increasing abortion rates?

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ETHICAL / MORAL ISSUES (CONT)

• My Thoughts
• Creating perfect individuals could help the
  survivability of our race.
  
• Having a child with the expectation of using them
  as a cure is ethically incorrect.
  
• The system would not allow a research team to set
  a precedent without legal evaluation as of today.

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ETHICAL / MORAL ISSUES (CONT)

• My Thoughts (cont)
• The argument of playing God does exist for this
  procedure.
  
• There is a extremely high possibility that some
  extremist groups would react violently.
  
• I am unsure what should be done with unused in
  vitro fertilized eggs.
  
• This procedure may be considered as contributing
  to increasing levels of abortion

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CONCLUSION

• This issue is extremely controversial among the
  members of society, especially among those
  researchers who are going to engage in such
  activity.
• Just as in most of the other ethically and
  morally questionable issues, there is no black or
  white answer. (All is gray)

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WORKS CITED / SOURCES USED

• Religious Tolerance Pre-implantation Genetic
  Diagnosis
  
• http//www.religioustolerance.org/abo_pgd.htm
• Bioethics Case Studies
• http//academics.vmi.edu/chem_jt/HNS376/HN20Case
  20Study201.doc
  
• Java-Imperium
• http//www.java-imperium.de/animierte-gifs/models/
  Angelina-Jolie/1.htm
  
• Tonys Stuff
• http//www.tonystuff.co.uk/raider/jolie.htm
• Dunas.com
• http//www.dunas.com/angie4.html
• BioTeach
• http//www.bioteach.ubc.ca/Bioethics/Preimplantati
  onGeneticDiagnosisAndOurFuture/