Judging Quality of Life and Ethics Due to Genetic Testing-where Should We Draw the Line?

Several days ago, I was surfing the Internet and came across an interesting article. My youngest child has PDD-NOS meaning she is on the autism spectrum of disorders. The article was written by the mother of a child who has autism and she expressed her concerns that if a genetic test is available for autism, it may make mothers more apt to abort. Already we see hints of this with many mothers who choose to abort babies who have Down Syndrome.

The autism spectrum is a wide one. If genetic testing becomes available that shows autistic children can be identified while in gestation, I believe this mother made a valid point. Likely more people will choose abortion in their attempt to have a "perfect" or "normal" baby.

Obviously this is an issue of ethics. I am not pro-choice and my views may be slanted for that reason so I am including it as an editorial article.

Life experience has taught me several lessons. Many people will assume you feel sorry for yourself if you discuss your past and fears of the future due to a medical condition. A statement of what a person such as I has gone through causes many people to assume I feel pity for myself because the incidents have not been pleasant. Their own feelings assumed by my remarks have caused me to infer they are judging my quality of life.

It may surprise my readers to learn I do not feel sorry for myself. My life has been a positive one. I am a mostly happy person who has found peace with who she is. I write about my experiences sometimes to share. Already I have met another young woman who was first generation Cowden Syndrome in her family (like me) and also experienced dysgerminoma-as have I. There are only three known cases of both conditions occurring in the same person in the world. I am her mentor.

My father once said if he knew what I would have to go through he would not have been sure he and mom would have continued the pregnancy. From that statement, he too, showed he believed my quality of life is poor. Yes, the scans and surgeries hurt. The operations are a nuisance as are the medical bills that arrive all too often but I love and enjoy living.

A person's quality of living cannot be judged by someone who has not walked in their shoes. I do not want a test for autism to be found because people who have autism can contribute to life as much as anyone-especially higher functioning autistics and those who have Asperger's. It is believed Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton had Asperger's Syndrome. Where would science be without these two men?