The Genetics Debate

Some of the ethical issues surrounding genetics testing in IVF.

When I first fell in love, I was faced with a difficult dilemma. The man I loved had HMSN, which had a 50% of being passed onto our children. His father had had it, and both he and his younger brother were affected. His brother had had numerous surgeries to correct deformities. I knew the risks were high, and thought we shouldn't chance it. I suggested Donor Insemination. My partner was horrified, saying he couldn't bear to see me pregnant by another man. We discussed adoption, but the chances of us actually being allowed to adopt were remote, since we were both disabled.

We argued about it a lot, he even accused me of 'wanting a Hitler race!'

Eventually, seeing how important it was to him to have his own children, we decided to go for it. That was in 1995, prior to the days of pre-implantation genetic diagnostics. Our relatives were agast, saying we should never have children and what we'd done was irresponsible and cruel. I could see their point. But I could also see ours. Whilst I wouldn't wish a disability on a child, since I have one and am happy, I don't see it as an obstacle to a fulfilling life.

We chose not to have a CVS as I would not have had a termination anyway. Thankfully all of our children were born without HMSN. I sometimes wish we'd got together 10 years later and then I definitely would have signed up for IVF with pre-implantation genetics diagnostics.

Their father is not so sure. He says it's like trying to breed 'perfect' babies and that IVF babies have more defects and illnesses than naturally concieved ones. He sees it as attempting to make a 'designer' baby, without long term follow up of how these children actually do.

I can see his opinion too, and wonder if there is a right or wrong answer to this issue?