Most Parents Would Genetically Screen Their Children - Just because you can test your children for their risk of possible future ailments doesn't mean you should.
In a recent research poll by Pediatrics journal, most parents would opt to test their children to see if they are genetically predisposed to health ailments like heart disease, diabetes, or even cancer. Many of these parents expect a perfect outcome which, according to one expert, is next to impossible.
Of course there are some good sides to this like it could be the best incentive to getting parents to impose a healthier lifestyle on their children. However, the negatives can far outweigh the positives, especially if the parents don't completely understand the basics of the test itself.
Consider this: Almost everyone is going to have some kind of health ailment in their life, whether diagnosed or not. For most parents, the "at risk of" can easily translate into "going to get." News like that can really change a family dynamic and how children are treated by their parents. And can you imagine the doctor visits? Nothing trumps normal like the threat of a future cancer diagnosis.
I'm under no delusions that my very healthy boys aren't at risk for something in their lives. Our family health history isn't exactly squeaky clean. Already knowing the probability that they are at risk of a variety of health ailments, the genetic tests wouldn't do anything more than reaffirm what I already know.
According to the study, the parents who would be more inclined to have their child tested are those who mistakenly believe that their children are, for lack of a better word, perfect. So when the test would come back to say that their child is predisposed to something, what does that do for them other than raise alarm and stress?
Very few people in this world are going to be clear of everything. It doesn't matter how healthy the pregnancy was or how healthy the child is raised. The possibility of parents being able to test their children for possible future medical ailments is distressing because that's all it's really good for; to cause stress.
Just because you can do something doesn't always mean you should. ( yahoo.com )
In a recent research poll by Pediatrics journal, most parents would opt to test their children to see if they are genetically predisposed to health ailments like heart disease, diabetes, or even cancer. Many of these parents expect a perfect outcome which, according to one expert, is next to impossible.
Of course there are some good sides to this like it could be the best incentive to getting parents to impose a healthier lifestyle on their children. However, the negatives can far outweigh the positives, especially if the parents don't completely understand the basics of the test itself.
Consider this: Almost everyone is going to have some kind of health ailment in their life, whether diagnosed or not. For most parents, the "at risk of" can easily translate into "going to get." News like that can really change a family dynamic and how children are treated by their parents. And can you imagine the doctor visits? Nothing trumps normal like the threat of a future cancer diagnosis.
I'm under no delusions that my very healthy boys aren't at risk for something in their lives. Our family health history isn't exactly squeaky clean. Already knowing the probability that they are at risk of a variety of health ailments, the genetic tests wouldn't do anything more than reaffirm what I already know.
According to the study, the parents who would be more inclined to have their child tested are those who mistakenly believe that their children are, for lack of a better word, perfect. So when the test would come back to say that their child is predisposed to something, what does that do for them other than raise alarm and stress?
Very few people in this world are going to be clear of everything. It doesn't matter how healthy the pregnancy was or how healthy the child is raised. The possibility of parents being able to test their children for possible future medical ailments is distressing because that's all it's really good for; to cause stress.
Just because you can do something doesn't always mean you should. ( yahoo.com )
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