Proper Essay Example About Medical Genetics

Medical genetics is viewed as one of the ways to diagnose and manage any hereditary disorders. It encompasses various areas, such as physician’s clinical practice, activities in diagnostic laboratory, and even research to point out the possible causes of genetic disorders. This medical approach can be beneficial many people, as there could be new ways to predict any future diseases that may arise due to the disorders of the gene. It can also benefit the children when it comes to knowing the possibility of having medical issues based upon the tested genes of his or her parents. However, such diagnostic procedure holds several ethical issues pertaining to both personal privacy and consent. Although genetic medicine is a beneficial new approach when it comes to preventing potential future disease, there are ethical dilemmas that makes it quite challenging to decide whether to accept the test or not.
Genetic testing is an essential opportunity in terms of assessing the genetic risk as well as diagnosing the patient’s medical status. Testing a child is a good example of a scenario that could raise ethical dilemmas for parents. In general, testing a child that shows symptoms can be viewed as morally accepted, as it aims to establish a concrete diagnosis before the situation gets worse. However, an ethical concern may arise once a child is being tested without any signs and symptoms of potential disease. An ethical concern for this scenario focuses on the question about whether such testing will be beneficial for the child. In fact, a child may not be able to decide for himself, which violates the ethical decision-making of either the parents or the doctor. This testing may also pose some risk against the child in terms of his own personal privacy. The result of the testing itself may be stored and can be used against him in a form of discrimination by his future employers, insurance companies, and even the government agencies. Furthermore, genetic testing performed on an individual may also put the privacy of other people, such as the person’s relatives and parents. If a genetic disorder was found, then it could lead to a conclusion that either or both of his parents have genetic disorders as well. Thus, the result may also lead to a conclusion that some of the person’s relatives are having the same disorder. This can reveal other person’s defective gene. There are more adverse effects that genetic medicine may provide. It is true that genetic testing may lead to helpful interventions and treatments. However, this does not apply to others, because not all medical conditions can be effectively treated. Although genetic testing for some disorders may help clinicians and parents in treating a child, there are still no cure for some uncertain conditions. Therefore, one dilemma that might occur is whether a child must be tested if the poor child suffers from an untreatable disorder. Which is why, ethical dilemmas about whether or not to accept the testing is still certain.
Genetic testing that aims to assess a condition that has no treatment can cause psychological harm as well as discrimination due to the revelation of the person’s personal and genetic information. There is no use that genetic testing will be done on something that cannot be treated to date. It will just create an adverse feeling about the medical situation that cannot be treated at the moment. In relation to the application and relativity of medical genetics with medical ethics, the principle of Beneficence plays essential roles. This ethical theory aims applies to the potential violation of the patients’ welfare when it comes to the process of obtaining one’s personal information. This may be used against the person in any forms, such as misjudging the person’s family genetic background and even discrimination due to the presence of genetic disorder. Every person who considers genetic medicine must deeply understand the potential benefits and drawbacks of the procedure to avoid any potential harm in terms of privacy and useless test that will not help in treating an untreatable disorders.