A Disabilities Rights Critique of Genetic Testing - Current Practices and Rationales

A disabilities rights critique of genetic testing, current practices and rationales.

Introduction

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules are the molecules that hold the hereditary information and biological instructions that are responsible for making every living specie on earth and even some viruses. DNA is found in the nucleus of a cell and contains the instructions needed for an organism to develop, survive and reproduce. During sexual reproduction, organisms inherit half of their nuclear DNA from the male parent and half from the female parent. DNA is responsible for making us who we are; it is the building blocks of life and ensures a species will continue by copying its codes and passing them on in reproduction from the parents to the off spring. Whilst DNA passes on all of the information to build an organism, it can also unwillingly pass on the codes that could eventually kill it with hereditary diseases and life shortening disabilities. And so begs the question, are preimplantation genetic testing (PGD) and prenatal DNA testing a positive strategy, is it the human race playing god or are we striving to stay one step ahead of Mother Nature to ensure a long and healthy life? Perhaps its survival of the fittest, and isn’t that what Mother Nature intended anyway when ‘over long periods of time, natural selection occurs in order to evolve or change a species’ (Freudenrich, date unknown). Groups that support genetic research suggest that ‘science is value free as well as progressive and inherently good’ (Newell, 2000, p.227), therefore suggesting only positives can come from genetic testing and the effects it will have on society in the future.

I am going to look at how genetic testing can influence society’s views of those with disabilities and genetic diseases. I will critically discuss the recent and future developments of genetic testing in relation to both the positive and negative aspects and outcomes of this taboo subject. I will also address the many advances in understanding the human genome and the ethical and moral discussions, especially in relation to the rights of the unborn embryo and the fetus, this brings into question. It also raises the argument of discrimination against disabled people and a Women’s right to choose comes into question which I will discuss later. Whilst there is no doubt in my mind that a better understanding of human genetics can offer opportunities for prevention, management and cure it is also clear to me that the potential for abuse, damage to rights and targeting already vulnerable groups of people in society is a very real risk.

Eugenics

Eugenics is a perfect example of how vulnerable groups of people have been targeted in the past right here in Britain as well as in other European countries. The process of Eugenics