Huntington Disease - Ethical Issue
PILOT HAVING HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE: ETHICAL ISSUES SURROUNDING THE “SACRIFICIAL LAMB” CASE.
THE QUESTION
When the father of an airline pilot dies of Huntington's disease, the airline does a routine random blood/drug screening. They instruct the lab to also screen for HD without informing the pilot. Now they want to fire him.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
The Airline instruct the lab to screen pilot’s blood for Huntington’s Disease without informing the pilot.
The Airline want to fire the pilot.
ETHICAL ISSUES
The privacy right of the pilot being violated.
Pilot’s career less significant than public safety.
DEFINITION AND TERMINOLOGY
Huntington's disease, chorea, or disorder (HD), is a progressive neurodegenerative genetic disorder, which affects muscle coordination and some cognitive functions, typically becoming noticeable in middle age.
The disease is caused by a dominant mutation on either of an individual's two copies of a gene called Huntingtin, which means any child of an affected parent has a 50% risk of inheriting the disease
The genetic test for HD consists of a blood test which counts the numbers of CAG repeats in each of the HTT alleles.
A positive result is not considered a diagnosis, since it may be obtained decades before the symptoms begin. However, a negative test means that the individual does not carry the expanded copy of the gene and will not develop HD.
Physical symptoms of Huntington's disease can begin at any age from infancy to old age, but usually begin between 35 and 44 years of age. If symptoms begin before about 20 years of age, they progress faster and vary slightly, and the disease is classified as juvenile, akinetic-rigid or Westphal variant HD.
Symptoms are: -lack of coordination -unsteady gait -jerky body movements -mental illness/psychiatric problems -pneumonia -heart disease etc
No cure
Only therapies to reduce physical and psychological symptoms.
AVIATION ACCIDENT STATISTICS
This 2 statistics clearly
THE QUESTION
When the father of an airline pilot dies of Huntington's disease, the airline does a routine random blood/drug screening. They instruct the lab to also screen for HD without informing the pilot. Now they want to fire him.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
The Airline instruct the lab to screen pilot’s blood for Huntington’s Disease without informing the pilot.
The Airline want to fire the pilot.
ETHICAL ISSUES
The privacy right of the pilot being violated.
Pilot’s career less significant than public safety.
DEFINITION AND TERMINOLOGY
Huntington's disease, chorea, or disorder (HD), is a progressive neurodegenerative genetic disorder, which affects muscle coordination and some cognitive functions, typically becoming noticeable in middle age.
The disease is caused by a dominant mutation on either of an individual's two copies of a gene called Huntingtin, which means any child of an affected parent has a 50% risk of inheriting the disease
The genetic test for HD consists of a blood test which counts the numbers of CAG repeats in each of the HTT alleles.
A positive result is not considered a diagnosis, since it may be obtained decades before the symptoms begin. However, a negative test means that the individual does not carry the expanded copy of the gene and will not develop HD.
Physical symptoms of Huntington's disease can begin at any age from infancy to old age, but usually begin between 35 and 44 years of age. If symptoms begin before about 20 years of age, they progress faster and vary slightly, and the disease is classified as juvenile, akinetic-rigid or Westphal variant HD.
Symptoms are: -lack of coordination -unsteady gait -jerky body movements -mental illness/psychiatric problems -pneumonia -heart disease etc
No cure
Only therapies to reduce physical and psychological symptoms.
AVIATION ACCIDENT STATISTICS
This 2 statistics clearly