Genetic Defects
...year old sister was diagnosed with breast cancer, she decided to get genetically tested. Joling wanted to know more about her risks and the options available to help prevent herself from getting cancer. "I thought for sure that I would be negative. But then, when I found out I tested positive for the gene mutation, I was totally shocked. I started crying, and it was really emotional," Joling remembers. After finding out her diagnosis she attended a two hour long genetic counseling session where she learned what the BRCA 1 mutation was, the possible risks, and recommendations in preventing cancer. "After I had a few days to absorb my results I realized this was a good thing for me to know. The counseling provided me with information on all the options available, and I decided my course of action was to have my ovaries removed," said Joling (Women's Health Weekly 27-29).
As with almost any new technology, the Human Genome Project has provided society with benefits and problems from its findings. It has given people the opportunity to identify whether or not they are carriers of disease causing gene patterns, like Mimi did. This enables the possible prevention if the likelihood of a certain disease is known. On the other hand, this type of information frightens people because they do not know
what it means. The identification of one of these gene patterns does not mean the person has the disease, but rather are at higher risk of the disease forming. Unfortunately, due to a lack of knowledge, some individuals may make irrational choices, like committing suicide, because they think they will inevitably suffer and die of the disease that they are only a carrier for. This situation gives rise to the debate of whether or not it is ethical for professionals to withhold genetic information in fear of the individuals involved making...
View Full Essay
