Should prenatal genetic screening be encouraged?

Question

Do you think it's best or ethical to encourage prenatal genetic screening in order to select only healthy embryos?

Do you think its right that embryos with certain genetic illnesses and disabilities should be born despite a lack of quality of life?

I personally feel that its ultimately best to prevent children from having to suffer these diseases and to encourage parents to have healthy children. I'm not saying that these children cannot lead lives of some pleasure - but if we have to technology to avoid these illnesses then surely it is only moral to strive to give these children the best start in life as possible?

A vast number of eggs and sperm fail to develop anyway, outnumbering all the people that have ever lived. Is it not best to select the eggs ans sperm that can develop in to the child who can best enjoy life?

Btw Please bear in mind Godwin's Law.

Answer 1

it's survival of the fittest and best to let mother nature takes it course. It should always be a parents decision on how and when to concieve, not the governments.

Answer 2

The problem is this: Only the rich can afford all of this screening, pick and choosing. So, now not only will the poor be disadvantaged in all the old timey ways but in a new way - genetically! Very dangerous path to trod, I do believe. Think of the implication for disease research if only poor children, genetically, socially inferior children get them.

Answer 3

I think that God is always fair and doesn't make mistakes. So, prenatal genetic screening is kind of like picking what your child will look like. It's an interference with God's plan.

Not to get all religious, let me get to the facts. This testing is done similar to amniotic sac paternity testing. This when fluid is drawn while the baby is in the womb. This carries a great risk to the unborn child. Regular doctor appointments and ultrasounds are another good way to determine the baby's health.

The best bet to make sure your baby will be healthy is to follow proper guidelines during pregnancy. Some people also do DNA analysis. This will elude to any issues which may arise. Blood tests come into play not only with the DNA but determining RH factor and any possible complications the mother may encounter, herself.

Answer 4

"Do you think it's best or ethical to encourage prenatal genetic screening in order to select only healthy embryos? "

No

"Do you think its right that embryos with certain genetic illnesses and disabilities should be born despite a lack of quality of life?"

Absolutely

Happiness is relative, their are some worse off than me that are quite a bit happier.  As a computer scientist experienced with genetic algorithms, I am well aware of the dangers of seeding the gene pool with seemingly the most fit subjects.  Local maxima will occur far more often the more pruning is performed, and man's ability to decide what is the 'best' or 'most fit' purely does not exist.

... n***s and Hitler (there's your Godwin's law for you, lol)