Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis

Mike and Lauren, both in their late 20s, have been happily married for 4 years. Lauren has congenital deafness due to a known gene mutation, and Mike is an unaffected carrier. They have a one-in-two chance of having a deaf child, and they wish to avoid that risk. They are referred to the Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) clinic as they are seeking in vitro fertilization with PGD so that an embryo without the mutation causing deafness can be selected for implantation.

• What is pre-implantation genetic diagnosis?
• Does the law allow pre-implantation genetic diagnosis for a condition which does not require medical treatment?

Apply Theory (Specific Professional Healthcare Competencies + Clinical Medical Ethical Principles) to Practice in order to provide Optimal Patient-Centered Care (OPCC)

Source – Ethics Case Studies from Clinical Ethics and Law (Second Edition), Carolyn Johnston Penelope Bradbury