The Pros And Cons Of Genetic Parenting

As achondroplasia is a serious genetic disorder that parents worldwide are worried about their future children obtaining, there are also other options in which parents can deal with a mutation in a gene on chromosome 4 in a fetus. However, there is also a legitimate ethical dilemma between the two parents and the genetic counselor. Because the parents had a child with two such genes die at 2 months old, they want a baby who is heterozygous for the achondroplasia trait. Unfortunately the child inherits a flawed gene from one parent and a healthy gene from the other parent, so the child will be a dwarf just like the parents. There is an ethical dilemma faced by both the parents and the genetic counselor. Knowing that the couple plan to abort a healthy fetus, the genetic counselor needs to make a professional decision as to whether or not he or she would like to perform the test. On the other hand, the parents plan to abort the fetus anyways because they do not want their child to live with any genetic disorder.
Both of the parents have very understandable concerns for the health of their child due to their past experience with achondroplasia.
Dwarfism comes with possible complications such as abnormal bone structure and the possibility of living in a wheelchair for the rest of one’s life. After considering the possible complications and outcomes due to the fetus not inheriting one copy of the mutant gene, the parents are set on aborting the healthy fetus. On the other hand, based on my personal beliefs and religious leanings, any human fetus has a natural right to life. While considering the child will be a dwarf and the parents’ discontent with the child not inheriting one copy of the mutant gene, it is also important to remember that the child deserves to live a long and happy life as well. The genetic counselor has the proper training and knowledge about genetic disorders in order to properly advise parents on how they should handle their current
dilemma. As the genetic counselor, I would immediately refuse to give counseling to this couple. As stated earlier, I believe that every single fetus has a natural right to life. Due to my religious leanings as a Christian and my political leanings, I am pro-choice and I am against any notion that it is acceptable for parents and health clinics to abort a healthy human fetus. Just because the fetus will end up as dwarf and did not inherit one copy of the mutant gene, does not mean the parents should disregard the fetus and prevent it from living the life it deserves. The ethical dilemma presented to the counselor and the parents consists of what the parents think is right, and what the genetic counselor may or may not think is right. Obviously the two opinions will differ, but the counselor does have a right to deny them service based on the factual circumstances and intent of the parents.