Case: A married couple wishes to have a child; however, the 32-year-old mother knows that she is a carrier for Huntington's disease (HD). HD is a genetic disorder that begins showing signs at anywhere from 35-45 years of age. Its symptoms begin with slow loss of muscle control and end in loss of speech, large muscle spasms, disorientation and emotional outbursts. After 15-20 years of symptoms HD ends in death. HD is a dominant disorder which means that her child will have a 50% chance of contracting the disorder. Feeling that risking their baby's health would be irresponsible, the couple decides to use in vitro fertilization to fertilize several of the wife's eggs. Several eggs are harvested, and using special technology, only eggs that do not have the defective gene are kept to be fertilized. The physician then fertilizes a single egg, and transfers the embryo to the mother. Approximately 9 months later, the couple gives birth to a boy who does not carry the gene for the disorder. Please answer the following questions in 10-12 sentences: Is this a case of eugenics? "Eugenics" is defined as "the hereditary improvement of the human race controlled by selective breeding" (dictionary.com)Why or why not? Would it be acceptable for the parents to select for sex as well, or should they only select an embryo that does not have HD? How would selecting for sex be different? Is it ethical for this couple to have a baby when the mother could begin showings signs of HD when the baby is just a few years old? With this technology possible, would it be ethical for this couple to have a child without genetically ensuring it would not have the disease? . ● ● ● ● ● What if we did not have this technology, would it be ethical for a known carrier to have a child? (If not, how far should this carry? A carrier for cystic fibrosis, which is recessive?) Weighing everything, do you believe the couple acted ethically? Why or why not?
Case: A married couple wishes to have a child; however, the 32-year-old mother knows that she is a carrier for Huntington's disease (HD). HD is a genetic disorder that begins showing signs at anywhere from 35-45 years of age. Its symptoms begin with slow loss of muscle control and end in loss of speech, large muscle spasms, disorientation and emotional outbursts. After 15-20 years of symptoms HD ends in death. HD is a dominant disorder which means that her child will have a 50% chance of contracting the disorder. Feeling that risking their baby's health would be irresponsible, the couple decides to use in vitro fertilization to fertilize several of the wife's eggs. Several eggs are harvested, and using special technology, only eggs that do not have the defective gene are kept to be fertilized. The physician then fertilizes a single egg, and transfers the embryo to the mother. Approximately 9 months later, the couple gives birth to a boy who does not carry the gene for the disorder. Please answer the following questions in 10-12 sentences: Is this a case of eugenics? "Eugenics" is defined as "the hereditary improvement of the human race controlled by selective breeding" (dictionary.com)Why or why not? Would it be acceptable for the parents to select for sex as well, or should they only select an embryo that does not have HD? How would selecting for sex be different? Is it ethical for this couple to have a baby when the mother could begin showings signs of HD when the baby is just a few years old? With this technology possible, would it be ethical for this couple to have a child without genetically ensuring it would not have the disease? . ● ● ● ● ● What if we did not have this technology, would it be ethical for a known carrier to have a child? (If not, how far should this carry? A carrier for cystic fibrosis, which is recessive?) Weighing everything, do you believe the couple acted ethically? Why or why not?
Medical Terminology for Health Professions, Spiral bound Version (MindTap Course List)
8th Edition
ISBN:9781305634350
Author:Ann Ehrlich, Carol L. Schroeder, Laura Ehrlich, Katrina A. Schroeder
Publisher:Ann Ehrlich, Carol L. Schroeder, Laura Ehrlich, Katrina A. Schroeder
Chapter1: Introduction To Medical Terminology
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 24LE: Pain is classified as a ________________________ diagnosis sign symptom syndrome
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Transcribed Image Text:Case: A married couple wishes to have a child; however, the 32-year-old mother knows that she
is a carrier for Huntington's disease (HD). HD is a genetic disorder that begins showing signs at
anywhere from 35-45 years of age. Its symptoms begin with slow loss of muscle control and end
in loss of speech, large muscle spasms, disorientation and emotional outbursts. After 15-20 years
of symptoms HD ends in death. HD is a dominant disorder which means that her child will have
a 50% chance of contracting the disorder. Feeling that risking their baby's health would be
irresponsible, the couple decides to use in vitro fertilization to fertilize several of the wife's eggs.
Several eggs are harvested, and using special technology, only eggs that do not have the
defective gene are kept to be fertilized. The physician then fertilizes a single egg, and transfers
the embryo to the mother. Approximately 9 months later, the couple gives birth to a boy who
does not carry the gene for the disorder.
Please answer the following questions in 10-12 sentences:
Is this a case of eugenics? "Eugenics" is defined as "the hereditary improvement of the
human race controlled by selective breeding" (dictionary.com)Why or why not?
Would it be acceptable for the parents to select for sex as well, or should they only select
an embryo that does not have HD? How would selecting for sex be different?
Is it ethical for this couple to have a baby when the mother could begin showings signs of
HD when the baby is just a few years old?
With this technology possible, would it be ethical for this couple to have a child without
genetically ensuring it would not have the disease?
●
●
●
●
●
●
What if we did not have this technology, would it be ethical for a known carrier to have a
child? (If not, how far should this carry? A carrier for cystic fibrosis, which is recessive?)
Weighing everything, do you believe the couple acted ethically? Why or why not?
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