[rotc_t1]

The Metro article revealed that IVF patients are being surveyed to see if they would like to have their early embryos screened for genetic risk of developing breast cancer later in life. The technical ability is being developed at University College, London using a diagnostic tool product of the Human Genome Project. What would be your view of the use of this tool in this context if you were an IVF patient? Do you think that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority would give their approval?

[rotc_s60]

If i was an IVF patient i wouldn't mind having the test to screen out mutant genes, causing breast cancer in the embryo, but the results wouldn't make any difference to me. I certainly would want to find out whether my future child would develop breast cancer. However, the question that would rise is would i still want to keep the child? Yes, i would want to, whether my child had breast cancer or did not, i would still keep it. As my child grows up i would take her for regular check-ups and make sure she doesn't smoke.
Another reason why the IVF test wouldn't make any difference to me is because my grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997, and she had treatment. She's fine today, 8 years after the operation. My great-grandma didn't know her daughter would have breast cancer. She still gave birth. And like her, i would too, because i wouldn't have the heart to lose my baby. The thought of being able to save her from the cancer would constantly torture me: this is probably because someone i know has been through this and has come through safely. I would always think: 'If my grandma could be treated and cured why wouldn't my child be able to?'
What if the IVF test wasn't discovered? How would i know my children would have cancer? I wouldn't think about it because i would rule it out as an option.
If the cell in the embryo contained genetic mutations, it is likely that for one moment i would think about discarding it, if not for me and my family, for child's benefit. i wouldn't want to see my child in pain later in the future. However, i would take my chances. Breast cancer can kill but it can also be cured.
I think the IVF Test isn't very necessary. All parents with growing children must make sure their child is safe as they grow up and that they don't engage in activities such as smoking that could lead to cancer. If this test wasn't discovered parents wouldn't be able to tell whether their child has genetic mutations or not. These tests are also slightly expensive and not everyone has access to them. Women still give birth and life continues. For some people this test seems to be yet another scientific discovery of no value to them, mainly because they have no access to it. For others (mainly in developing countries) life just continues, whether the IVF tests are available or not, they don't care.
I am not very sure what the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority would say to this. Obviously, all these tests cost money. Very few people can afford it and clearly very few people care. They would probably consider how many people would use this and how many people it will be available to. The more expensive the test is, the less people would use it and therefore, the authority would probably consider whether it should be used at all.
I personally, do not like the idea of discarding embryos when they have found to contain genetic mutations.

[rotc_t1]

If an embryo is diagnosed as having genetic instructions for breast cancer.....does it necessarily mean they will get breast cancer later in life?

[rotc_s48]

The idea of the test is generally to inform and protect the individulas against various forms of cancer is seen positive to a certain limit. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority should give permission to this as it is a big step forward into a safer future e.g. the mother discovers that her child might develope mutant genes in the future and decides that she does not want to give birth to that child. A lot of problems are eliminated with this. However, the child might not develope any symptoms of any kind of cancer or treatment against the symptoms might be discovered against that particular disease... there are too many perspectives so it is very difficult to suggest a statement because if you start thinking about it then there is no end... ...

[rotc_s50]

On the surface, there isn't very much wrong with such a process; the IVF patients are warned and have more opportunity to be given a choice. However; would every patient have enough knowledge to correctly understand the disease, and thus to make a fully conscious decision? A patient might choose to abort the baby, believing the condition to be worse than it actually is. Then, of course, there would be religious issues to consider: many will consider the process to be, in effect, "playing god"; and then one must consider the other ethical issues: would it be right to deny life to the aborted embryo? But then again, can the embryo, hypothetically aborted before they can be considered a "conscious" being, feel any of the negetive consequences of the termination? Would it be fair to bring into the world somebody who risks having their life shortened? Then there are financial issues to consider, as another student has pointed out.

Personally, I'd not choose abortion regardless, and only take the test for the purposes of looking into the embryo's distant future: if the breast cancer genes were present, I'd just take precautions.

[rotc_s52]

The purpose of this test initially seems to be a positive way of screening embryos for mutations that cause breast cancer and giving the parents the option of terminating the pregnancy. While this sounds like a good way of reducing the number of people who develop breast cancer, there are many ethical issues which would not agree with this test. I think it is a good thing to know before hand if your child is likely to develop breast cancer so precautions can be taken, but there is no guarantee they will, which may lead to parents aborting the pregnancy without knowing if their child will grow up to be cancer free.

I think the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority should give the option of enabling IVF parents to find out if their embryo has the mutated gene, but there should be no pressure to terminate, because breast cancer can be cured and who has the right to deny a child from living with cancer or without. If I was an IVF patient I would like to know if my embryo had the gene so I could be prepared for the future but I would never abort the embryo on uncertain grounds.

[rotc_s26]

We believe that testing for breast cancer in embryo's is a very good idea. Surely over a elongated period of time the number of breast cancer sufferers would decrease (as the embryo's are being tested and the ones not carrying the gene would be prefered, thus meaning the children of IVF patients are 80% less likely to develop the illness). Reducing the strain on the NHS. But on the other hand it could be abused and kill lots of innocent babies.

[rutc_s8]

surely it can only be beneficial to have such screening as through testing the death rate could be significantly reduced. I know if i was an IVF parent i would want the best possible life for my child however the decision I would make faced with positive or negative results would be a very difficult one if it meant killing the embryo.