PGD the New Eugenics

Men are attracted to different women with different qualities such as appearance, intelligence, or any other characteristics that they value. The qualities that these women posses and the selection that people make for their decision of who they will marry and have children with is itself a process of selection of traits that people want for their children to ultimately inherit.

If possible to them, parents will always chose the best education for their children they can afford, and provide them with the best available resources, and if in any way possible, provide them with opportunities in life that will increase their children’s chances of survival and success in the world they are brought into. Increasing the chances of their child being born healthy is something every parent would try to achieve by any means available.

PGD gives parents the opportunity to select the most desired embryo after all genetic screening has been performed in several ones. No matter where such selection occurs, within a woman’s womb or in a test tube, the process involves discarding the “unwanted embryos”.

Although, eugenics restricts people’s freedom of reproduction through government control, I think that PGD is the new form of eugenics born in view of technological advancements which make possible that not only governments but other entities have the power of choosing to kill their embryos. I consider it as is morally wrong and unethical.

 The answer to the question why such selections are unethical depends on the purpose and technologies used. If science and technology make possible genetic testing and determination of traits in a man or women that could possibly cause any type of disorder in offsprings before the conception and embryo formation and the couple decided not to conceive that might be acceptable in my opinion. If such determinations are made in an embryo and parents decide to kill it; this is unethical. Likewise, I consider unethical the selection of the “best” embryo and discarding the others.

Couples who decide to use PGD in the expectation of having a child with no risk of development of future diseases such as diabetes 2 or cardiac heart disease is absurd because they would be ignoring environmental influences, and the mere fact that we do not have a full understanding of all the genes in our body especially the ones that could someday be at higher risk for developing a disease.
In the end, no matter how hard people can try, there will always be mutations in the germ line, unexpected defects, and unknown diseases that will occur.  With time, new diseases will be discovered and there can always be errors in genetic screening.

Those who tarnish or possess a threat to people’s perception of a utopian society would not be accepted and subsequently become socially isolated. I feel as though PGD is a new form of eugenics in that it would damage our society.  Through PGD, we as a society might become too focused in creating the ‘perfect’ embryo and disregarding the others for missing a desired gene, that we will lose a sense of compassion and that sensitivity that makes us human.

Individuals with fragile X syndrome, down syndrome and other genetic disabilities make the world a better place to live in. They are living proof that life can be fulfilling although they are not the same as everyone else. Should we have killed them once we learned that they had such diseases?

It is not wrong for a parent to want the best for their child whether it is in genetic advantages or tangible resources in the world, rather it is something very noble. However, the lengths to achieve these genetic advantages through PGD and killing embryos is not something that should be done unless screening for a known disease in family history.

Hot Lights, Cold Steel by Micheal J. Collins, M.D.

Hot Lights, Cold Steel by Micheal J. Collins, M.D.

A book that I highly recommend for anyone who is looking for a great read this fall. This book and the stories that are written in it will stay with you for the rest of your life.

If you are a pre-med student or medical student in the process of becoming a doctor, this is a book that you should definitely read if not have.

The book tells the story of Micheal J. Collins, MD 4 year surgical residency. In the story, Dr. Collin's starts out as a clueless first year resident to an accomplished chief resident. He sheds light on people's often misconception of a doctors glamorous lifestyles.

'Hot Lights, Cold Steel' by Micheal J. Collins, M.D.  It is a great book written by Micheal Collins, M.D. who writes about his experience as a resident in medical school.Not only does Dr. Collins brilliantly weave humor into his story but he also tugs at your heart strings at devastating situations he comes across during his residency. He talks about his growing family in the process of finishing school.


' Adored by readers and critics alike, Hot Lights, Cold Steel is a gripping memoir, at times devastating, often triumphant, but always compulsively readable. It has been translated into several different languages and is a modern classic in the field of medical memoir.'
                                                                                   ~http://www.michaeljcollinsmd.com/hotlights.php

Modern Medical Science & Immunizations

 Although immunizations have had a tremendous impact in reducing morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases over the last two centuries a considerable number of people have contrary opinions about the benefit of vaccines. In extreme cases they hesitate to vaccinate their children or refuse such procedures.
In my personal opinion I believe that immunizations are an important measure that protects individuals from many diseases. I also believe that vaccines are an important public health measure preventing the spread of diseases and outbreaks.

I asked three individuals with no biology background whether they would vaccinate their new born child or not. They all stated yes. When I asked why they would vaccinate their child, one stated that vaccinations would allow their child to live a longer life. The second interviewee stated that if their child was to get the flu or the common cold, they would have a strong immune system against a sickness that could happen to them with a change of season. The last individual stated that vaccinations prevented premature deaths.
Although the three individuals that I interviewed about their opinion on vaccinations stated they would vaccinate their child and had a general reason to do so, there are others who do not believe in vaccinations and are not aware of how greatly modern medical science has impacted our health in more ways than one. Diseases are becoming rare because of vaccinations. Eradication of deadly diseases such as small pox is the best example in favor of the crucial role of vaccines in public health. Polio is another example of a disease that has become eliminated in the United States.

There are also people who believe that, because they are born and raised in a developed country like the United States where illnesses such as malaria, tuberculosis, and human parasites are extremely rare that there is no need for vaccination. They may not be aware of the fact that millions of Americans travel from US to other parts of the world every years and are exposed to so many infectious diseases. If they catch any of such diseases unknowingly they become carriers and traveling could unintentionally bring an unwarranted disease to the United States which could then affect a non-vaccinated infant or child.

Vaccines, like any other medication, have their share of side effects. For example younger children are afraid or inject able vaccines may be painful. They can also trigger slight symptoms of the diseases they tend to prevent such as fever.  In the rare event that they may even cause serious complications such as allergic reactions or even brain damages. All these effects are rare and the benefits of vaccines heavily outweigh these risks.

 I am not sure whether vaccination should be regulated or forced by law, but the media, public policy and public health officials at all levels, health care providers, and other entities should conduct a continuous educational campaign to assure that every child or citizen get vaccinated for the age related diseases to protect themselves and the wide public. In order to eliminate any uncertainty about vaccinations, we need to educate people through announcements on the radio, via social networks, posters, and television commercials. Also, I strongly believe that children need to be exposed as early as possible about the benefits of modern medical science such as in this case the benefits of vaccinations.