Heather's decision to turn down genetic testing for Huntington's disease does no further harm to the life she already has. Knowing whether she carries the gene or not does not hamper the life she is going to live down the road because knowing cannot change the outcome of her life. The genetic counselor's suggestion of PGD is helpful because Heather can ensure that her child will not inherit the gene if indeed she does carry it, without actually determining if she does carry the gene for the disease. I don't believe that PGD is equivalent to prenatal diagnosis because they are not diagnosing Heather with any disease. PGD would only ensure that her embryo cannot be diagnosed with Huntington's Disease. PGD is also not equivalent to selective abortion because the stage of the embryo at which it is destroyed cannot be compared to that of a fetus which is already implanted and growing in the mother's uterus.
Heather's decision to turn down genetic testing for Huntington's disease does no further harm to the life she already has. Knowing whether she carries the gene or not does not hamper the life she is going to live down the road because knowing cannot change the outcome of her life. The genetic counselor's suggestion of PGD is helpful because Heather can ensure that her child will not inherit the gene if indeed she does carry it, without actually determining if she does carry the gene for the disease. I don't believe that PGD is equivalent to prenatal diagnosis because they are not diagnosing Heather with any disease. PGD would only ensure that her embryo cannot be diagnosed with Huntington's Disease. PGD is also not equivalent to selective abortion because the stage of the embryo at which it is destroyed cannot be compared to that of a fetus which is already implanted and growing in the mother's uterus.
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