If someone carries the allele for Huntington’s
disease it is currently certain that sooner or later they will develop
the symptoms of the disease and eventually die. However, if genetic
testing becomes routine, and the secrets of our DNA are revealed,
then many less clear situations will show up – and
the ethical dilemmas will multiply.
Much of the information in our genome will simply show an increased
tendency towards certain conditions such as diabetes, Parkinson’s
disease, heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s. Whether we
go on to develop the symptoms of these diseases will depend both
on the rest of our genetic makeup and the way we live our lives.
 Consider
pilots who fly commercial airliners. Obviously if a pilot has a
heart attack whilst flying a jumbo jet carrying hundreds of people
it is a serious situation for all concerned. It may well be possible
in the fairly near future to carry out a genetic test to see if
someone has an increased risk of developing heart disease in middle
age.
|
- If such a test becomes
available, should all airline pilots be
forced to take it?
- If all pilots are tested,
how would you suggest the information
is used?
- If your DNA profile shows
you have a raised likelihood of suffering
heart disease in your 40s, should you
be allowed to train and work as an airline
pilot?
- Do you think it is acceptable
for genetic information about an individual
to be used in this way?
Discuss your answers with
other people. Try and quantify the number
of different opinions put forward and the
number of people holding different views – can
opposing views be reconciled? |
|
|
|
|