Idea of 'designer' babies with defective genes stirs ethics questions

CNN ^ | January 19, 2007 | AP

[metmom]

ping

[8mmMauser]

Pinged from Terri Dailies

8mm

[T'wit]

>> Whether you're selecting for perfection or for imperfection,

There you go, that was my reaction too. The very manipulation of procreative process is what is immoral -- not whether the choice is for eugenic or dysgenic offspring.

And yes, we are back to Dred Scott. The youngest and most helpless among us are denied the protections of the fifth and fourteenth amendments. Terri Schiavo was likewise treated as disposable chattel with the active approval of the entire U.S. judiciary all the way to SCOTUS. I'm not trying to switch the subject here, but if you're interested, here is a link to a thoughtful essay: "Dred Scott and Terri Schiavo: the long and tortured death of the 14th amendment at the hands of the federal judiciary"

[Coleus]

Couples Cull Embryos to Halt Heritage of Cancer

 

Many U.S. Couples Seek Embryo Screening (designing the dream child Alert!)

 

Ethicists debate issues about beginning of life

 

THE CODE FOR HUMAN LIFE

 

'Embryo Bank' Stirs Ethics Fears (Clients Pick Among Fertilized Eggs)

[AntiGuv]

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[wallcrawlr]

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[narses]

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[dmw]

And now for the rest of the story....

The parents ended up letting their daughter have the CI surgery and the last I heard she is doing quite well with her CI. The deaf mother decided to get at CI too, and last I heard she too is pleased with her implant.

[cva66snipe]

There is one factor though that can not be determined or at least determined for certain in a person who has never had hearing and has implants. The cure in some {likely rare cases} can be worse then the problem. Hearing isn't just detecting noises it is also processing correctly the sounds heard.

IOW hearing conversations but not being able to distinguish one from the other. Or a bad startle reflex can occur as well.

If the person over time lost their hearing and showed no signs of processing disorders then the implants would be a safe bet. The signs of processing disorders would have been likely detected beforehand.

To give you some idea of what I'm saying Vestibular dysfunction or disorders is a common cause for anxiety disorders in adults. It is cause and effect the Vestibular causing the anxiety.

I can only speak for myself on this but I would likely refuse implants if they would restore my hearing to what it was 10 years ago. In many cases certain environmental sounds normal to others are not my friend. Right now I'm not certain it would do any good anyway as they don't know for certain what has happened to me to start with except it's sensory both audio and visual processing issues.

With many Vestibular Disorders processing disorders often follow as well. This is the part beyond the ear drum and is between the Inner Ear and the brain.

I'm about half deaf in one ear now and tinnitus is strong in my ear I hear best with. I'll likely get a hearing aid sometime in the next year or so and the volume level adjustment and on and off will be used considerably. I don't enjoy loosing my hearing but I have less sensory induced seizure activity now from doing normal task like trying to shop.

If I had a kid I knew had sensory processing disorders before deafness I would have to think long and hard on the matter. Would I be doing more harm than good?

But back to the article I would never genetically alter a child to have a disability.

[MinorityRepublican]

No, I am actually uncomfortable at this point with the decision I made to get my daughter a CI, something she really does not want.

Maybe it's none of my business, but I am curious anyway, why do you regret getting your daughter a CI?

[metmom]

I realize that implants don't work in every situation; they only treat certain conditions.

I would imagine that learning to hear as an adult would be a whole lot more difficult that as a child. I understand that there are optimum time frames for developing certain skills as an infant and if that window is missed, it's almost not even worth trying.

IMO, genetically altering a child to be deformed or have a birth defect is as bad as doing it after. If someone mutilated a child after birth, they'd be considered a criminal and likely go to jail for a long time. I don't see that doing it genetically is any different.

Life is tough enough for people with no physical challenges. Why make it worse?

[merry10]

Sure you can ask. I was under the impression that the CI would help her to read better. I was wrong.

Maybe it is becuase she was implanted later; maybe it was my own naivete; but I wanted to give her access to all tools to help her learn. I thought the CI would provide greater environmental access. Well she is the one who points out cars when we're trying to cross the street.

Regret might be too strong of a word. Maybe second thoughts would be better.

[merry10]

Some could argue that implanting a child with a CI is the same as genetically altering him or her.

I have to admit, I am very uncomfortable with implants for children 12 months and younger.

[jmcenanly]

It sounds like Huxley's Brave New World. In that novel, the elite classes, the Alphas and Betas,were screened for genetic perfection and enhanced intelligence.The mid-level Gammas were mass-produced, but average. The Deltas and Epsilons, who did the lowest work, were retarded, both in the sense of being mentally deficient, and were held back in development.

It would seem that we are going down that road, like it or not.

January 22, 143 AF