Genetic Testing: An Issue of Ethics

As the human race continues to advance various medical practices have been evolving including genetic testing. A doctor can look at somebody’s chromosomes, genes and proteins to determine if a certain disease is common in their family or if they have what it takes to become a professional athlete. At first it sounds like an unquestionable thing to do with all the benefits that come along with it. The problem with genetic testing lies in who should know and the confidentiality that goes along with it. By having the ability to find disorders and diseases common in someone’s ancestry, doctors can track a patient and help them before they know they need help. Also if a person has the genes to become a professional athlete they can get the proper training at a young age. These both sound like great things, but who says the person wants to know this information. What is a patient is diagnosed with an untreatable disease? This would significantly change their outlook on life and nobody should have to know this from the beginning of their life. If a person has the genes to become a professional sport then they should find this information out on their own as they decide on their own what they want to do with their life. In America we don’t want our athletes to be trained like Olympic athletes in China or other non-democratic countries. The bottom line is that a person can’t make the decision if they want to know this information or even be tested for it. Although there is good that may come out of it, people need to understand that there is a fine line between what one person thinks in helpful and what people want to know for themselves. Testing is not inevitable, and until there is more information and until people vote on this, we cannot continue to use this because it is ethically wrong.