One of my current classes for Clinical Medicine is Genetics. My undergraduate degree was in biology, so I have taken a genetics course before, but this one is much more medically focused. It is fascinating, and also sobering, learning about all of the diseases/syndromes caused by genetic abnormalities or mutations.
Our first lecture discussed our society’s way of handling genetic diseases in the not so distant past. The twentieth century was a trying time as eugenics became a socially acceptable science. Most everyone is aware of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany’s stance on eugenics, but very few realize how the United States practiced eugenics in the hope of decreasing the frequency of genetic conditions. Indiana, in particular, has had some horrific and shameful ways of handling genetic abnormalities. For many years, we had laws forcing the mentally disabled (or obviously genetically abnormal) to be sterilized and put in facilities. One of our most notable state facilities was Muscatatuck State Developmental Center. Abuse of the patients and misconduct of the employees was a staple of the institution, which shockingly was not shut down until 2005.
I believe many of us in the healthcare industry would like to forget the mistakes of our preceptors and move forward to set our humane treatment of mental illness and genetic con editions as a hallmark of generation. However, as we advance in our abilities to genetically test, identify, and isolate genetic abnormalities, what sort of new ethical problems are bringing into medicine?
We touched on some of these new ethical and legal issues including the purpose of fetal genetic testing for conditions such as Down’s syndrome and pre-symptomatic adult testing for conditions such as Huntington’s disease or even breast cancer. There are so many ethical and spiritual issues that could be discussed regarding genetic testing, but I wanted to try to aim at the heart of it all.
Fear. The unknown. As human beings, we are terrified of what we cannot see and what we do not know. H.P. Lovecraft says, “The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.” This is an issue I wrestle with regularly. My husband comes from a family that has a high incidence rate of cancer on his mother’s side. His mother had cancer when she was in her mid-thirties, and most of her siblings and her parents have all had cancer as well. By the Lord’s grace, they are all still here with us, but this puts a lot of fear in my heart about my husband’s (and thus my family’s) future. I will openly admit that I have considered asking my husband to get the genetic testing to see if he is genetically more inclined toward cancer. We justify these tests by saying that it will help us prepare for what is ahead. But what if all the preparation we need for life’s hardships is already right in front of us?
The Lord has provided us with his inspired word that helps guide us in our unknown paths. All he asks is that we put our trust in HIS plans! “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'” How much should the results of a test change our future? None! We should be striving every day to live for Him and his glory no matter what may happen along the way. I love the way Corrie Ten Boom put it: “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
Genetic testing has its benefits at times, but many times it just leads to additional ethical and spiritual issues. As healthcare professionals, we need to remember that the Lord is sovereign and no matter the results of ANY test, he is the ultimate healer. We are simply conduits for His amazing work.
Faith, Fashion, & Forceps 