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While PGD represents the cutting edge of reproductive technology, and gives us an idea of what may be possible for the future, it also raises a number of worries and concerns, especially in India, where people are worried that it may be used for sex-selection.
PGD is emotionally a very touchy area, because not only are we dealing with human embryos - the very start of new life, but we are studying their basic blueprint - their genes - the stuff of which humanity is made. Obviously, this is likely to cause people to take very strong views on what is right and what is wrong - so that they start thinking with their hearts rather than their heads! Many people confuse PGD with genetic engineering. A familiar refrain is we shouldn't be doing any of this because scientists are becoming too big for their boots - they are trying to play God by tinkering with the genes, and it is far better that they leave this entire field well alone, since we will never be able to understand any of it - it is beyond human wisdom. This is a common knee-jerk reaction, which precludes further rational debate.
The other viewpoint is - Why not? If man can improve on Nature, then why should he not try? After all, building a house is simply man's way of improving on nature - and if we can improve man himself, then why not? Seen in this light, then studying the molecular genetics of the human embryo would be the ultimate goal of all medicine. In the past, doctors used to treat adults. In the beginning of the 20th century, we started treating children, and the field of pediatrics was born. We can now treat the fetus - and the future patient of the 21st century will be the embryo - this is a logical progression!
If we allow people to choose when to have babies; how many to have; and even to terminate pregnancies if they inadvertently get pregnant, then why not allow them to select the sex of their child, if it is possible?
We should allow patients freedom to choose for themselves - medical technology should empower them with choices they can make for themselves! A common criticism against PGD for sex selection is that it will cause an unbalanced sex ratio. In reality, PGD will allow couples to balance the sex ratio in their families, rather than unbalance it! For example, take a couple with a baby girl, who wants to have a second baby. If they leave things up to chance, half of them will have a second baby girl - causing unbalanced interfamily sex ratios! PGD will allow them to make sure that they have a balanced sex ratio in their family, if they so desire. Seen in this light, PGD is perhaps the ultimate form of family planning there is!
© Dr. Aniruddha Malpani and Dr. Anjali Malpani www.drmalpani.com
Credits: How to Have a Baby: Overcoming Infertility
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