Question of the Day: Genetic screening

Tuesday September 5, 2006

Two posts in our blog round-up earlier today addressed the topic of PGD, or preimplantation genetic diagnosis. The procedure involves using in vitro fertilization to create an embryo, screen it for genetic imperfections, and implant it only if it "passes." In addition to identifying actual genetic disorders, the testing can tag predispositions for a wide variety of potential problems, allowing parents to at least theoretically prevent the birth of children with any sort of special needs, big or small, grave or minor. Families who've seen one child suffer might understandably want to make sure that they don't have another child with the same ailment, and there might seem to be some mercy in not starting a life that will end quickly and painfully. But identifying the place at which this ceases to be merciful and starts being merciless may turn out to be harder than it looks, and will certainly vary from family to family. Would you do anything to keep from having another special-needs child? Would you, knowing what you know now, have chosen not to bear the child you have now? Do you support procedures that would prevent special-needs children from being born? Pick an answer from the poll at right, or click on "other" and explain yourself in the comments.