Question One Responses

Sometimes parents with particular disabilities (dwarfism or deafness, for example) want to have children with the same traits so they can fully share in the culture and lifestyle of the parents. Should prospective parents have the right to use genetic testing on embryos to select those with "desired" disabilities?

325 people responded: 15% = YES    84% = NO    1% = UNSURE

• Selection of particular genetic traits should not be granted based solely on the desire to make an individual's life better. Having a disability takes a considerable amount of resources and time.


• Absolutely not! No one but God has the right to choose whether a person should be born disabled or not especially if tests on embryos are done.


• Genetic testing for the desired embryo is the decision of the parents, so choosing their embryo is at their own discretion and is their choice.


• Okay for corn and soybeans, not for people.


• Yes, dwarfism is very understandable when they live in certain communities.


• I don't think they should, they aren't called "Disabilities" for nothing. It is not right to choose people's handicaps for them.


• No, I believe it is wrong to force someone to have a disability.


• No, because the children should have the right to have a happy and normal life, they shouldn’t have their future chosen by their parents.


• Yes, the parents are the one’s responsible for the children. If they feel it's best for them, it’s fine.


• No, because no parent should desire their child to have the same disorder/disability as them, just so they can share in the same experiences.


• No, to give a child a disability is selfish and unfair to society –it adds medical costs and problems.


• Why would you not give your child ever chance to succeed? You are only limiting their chances in life. And that is very selfish to want them to be identical to you.


• Parenting and giving birth is an individual right. We must safeguard choice and part of that choice necessitates the overall right to chose right down to individual rights to tests.


• Since when is a disability or an ability, a ‘lifestyle’? I think you should play the hand you are dealt, not stack the deck.


• They should be able to screen them, yes, but they should screen to avoid those disabilities.