Sunday, January 09, 2005

The Ethics of Genetics Screening

Ignoring some of the aesthetic issues, Dr. Daniel Eisenberg provides a very interesting look into the Jewish ethical perspective on issues related to screening for Tay-Sachs disease
Genetic screening for recessive traits is a great boon to the Jewish community (and the rest of the world). Whether done confidentially or publicly, the information gained provides the opportunity to make wise and informed decisions about the future. There are no health ramifications for the person being tested, but by utilizing such means, we can look forward to a future filled with more hope and less disease.

It's important to note that this evaluation applies to recessive traits that have large health detriments to the person who has the trait implemented in them (that is, not just a carrier).