A watchdog has approved gene tests that almost entirely eliminate the chance of having a baby with an inherited disease. There was not reason legal ethical or social for why people could not be screened prior to starting a family for genetic mutations says the Human Genetics Commission.
This would prevent life threatening conditions such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anaemia in newborns if the couples had prior screening while many families that have the known risk of inherited diseases are already offered testing. Some think that it makes disabilities viewed as undesirable and warned the tests amounted to nothing other than eugenics.
Until they are pregnant many couples or individuals do not know they are carriers of certain genetic disorders that could be passed on to their newborns. There is a one in four chance that a child will inherit both genes of couples that both carry a silent gene and could possibly suffer from the disease.
Many individuals do not know they are carriers until they are pregnant says Dr. Frances Flinter the chair of the group that wrote the report and a test before conception can ensure a better choice for the patient and access to necessary information that a couple needs when there is a plan to have children.
In the beginning tests would be private with the cost being in the range of several hundreds of pounds and would not be available on the NHS until which time that the National Screening Committee was satisfied with their reliability and cost effectiveness. One not in favour of the screenings said that couples should not be choosing partners because of these types of screenings or because of one’s DNA.
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