4 ms·
That is extremely unethical. Going off Wikipedia, most people with Huntington's start presenting symptoms from 30 to 50 years of age. Those are 30 years that th
by atiedebee 1y ago
That is extremely unethical. Going off Wikipedia, most people with Huntington's start presenting symptoms from 30 to 50 years of age. Those are 30 years that they can live a normal fulfilling life.
Prohibiting people from having kids because their children may or may not live a shorter life is, as you pointed out, a slippery slope.
- throwawayObvs27 1y agoHave you seen a patient presenting with Huntington's? I wouldn't wish that suffering on my worst enemy. The chance is 50% for every child of a person with Huntington's. Is it ethical to deliberately have children knowing that they have a 50% chance of of their lifespan being cut in half, then dying in unimaginable pain guaranteed? There is always a risk for birth defects, but this one is a _choice_. Some people knowingly choose this fate for their children instead of adopting - that feels so wrong to me. Even ignoring the humanitarian side, think of the societal cost. Every patient needs expensive round-the-clock care in the later stages, families and friends watch their loved ones deteriorate. If I was born knowing I had an early expiration date with that fate, I'd certainly need therapy. It's completely preventable.