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Prenatal testing for adult-onset conditions: cui bono?

Bonnie Steinbock1

  • 1Department of Philosophy, University at Albany/SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA. steinbock@albany.edu

Reproductive Biomedicine Online
|January 18, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal genetic testing for untreatable adult-onset diseases in children is ethically questionable. The potential benefits for parents, society, or the child do not justify such testing, challenging current bioethical consensus.

Area of Science:

  • Bioethics
  • Medical Genetics
  • Reproductive Medicine

Background:

  • A consensus exists against testing minors for untreatable adult-onset genetic diseases.
  • This paper examines the ethical considerations of prenatal genetic testing for such conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the ethical justifications for prenatal genetic testing for untreatable adult-onset genetic diseases.
  • To evaluate potential beneficiaries: prospective parents, society, or the child.

Main Methods:

  • Ethical analysis of reproductive autonomy.
  • Examination of societal benefits and child welfare in genetic testing contexts.

Main Results:

  • Prenatal testing for untreatable adult-onset genetic diseases lacks clear justification.
  • Arguments based on parental reproductive autonomy, societal benefit, or the child's best interest are not compelling.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal genetic testing for untreatable adult-onset genetic diseases is ethically problematic.
  • The potential benefits do not outweigh the ethical concerns, challenging established bioethical norms.

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