whats your opinion on this?

[Snufkin]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1916000/1916462.stm

[Mad Bad John]

My opinion ( the short version ) :- the`re selfish, they are considering theselves first rather than the child, I do not approve.:mad:

[Player0]

I'm a strong 'right to choose' person, and I don't beleive that the government, or society in general, should limit the actions of individuals that do no harm to others. So, I have to agree that it was this couples right to have sperm from anyone wishing to deposit it. After all, don't most of us practise selective breeding in one form or another anyway? We look for features in our mate that we would probably like our kids to have as well.

If the woman had married this same man who donated sperm, and they had a deaf child, would we even have seen this in the news? I doubt it. Many deaf people have deaf children. I think that the majority of deaf people would rather have a non-disabled child.

But what it really comes down is human relations. A deaf person doesn't fit in to society the same way most other people do, because they communicate differently. So they become the same group. Its perfectly understandable to me the desire to have a child that you can relate to. If you and your wife spoke English, and your child spoke Mandarin chineese, there would be a gap between the parents in a child. A strong family would overcome this gap either way I beleive.

I dont think I would be as willing to accept this as much if the child was MADE deaf by the parents, or was genetically altered to be deaf. But since it was a case of insemination, which I feel is still a natural method of conceivement, well...then I guess nature or god or whatever wanted this child to be deaf.

Thats my analytical view of it. The emotional side of me is a bit appaled at the idea. Deafness is not a feature I'd like to pass on. I would certainly be right pissed if the government gave these people money for their disability after this. Hey! You chose to have a deaf child, great, YOU pay the extra school costs and doctor bills. I dont want my tax money going to people who actually CHOOSE disability. But that is a choice the rest of us shouldn't pay for.

[GITster]

Originally posted by Player0
I would certainly be right pissed if the government gave these people money for their disability after this. Hey! You chose to have a deaf child, great, YOU pay the extra school costs and doctor bills. I dont want my tax money going to people who actually CHOOSE disability. But that is a choice the rest of us shouldn't pay for.

Now THAT is a very good argument, i like that.

[tripodal]

Player0 good call... both points are valid..and i feel pretty much the same... in fact
i believe you have saved me 5 minutes of hard thought

[Surgeon General]

:xangfire:

[Player0]

One thing is for sure though, with all this 'modern' technology, ethics has sure become a lot harder. Genetic engineering. Scary stuff, right or wrong.

[BigBen]

I will quote my son "dad that is really wicked, they can't really love the child" :mad: :( :eek:

[jema]

The horrendus thing is that they are not alone :( There is an element of support for this travesty in the death community :mad:

I fear that a few warped people like this (and you do have to look at what has created this warped point of view) will end up allowing laws to be passed that will prevent people having children engineered to eliminate disabilities.

jema

[GITster]

Originally posted by jema
I fear that a few warped people like this (and you do have to look at what has created this warped point of view) will end up allowing laws to be passed that will prevent people having children engineered to eliminate disabilities.

Yep, they could set a dangerous precedent :(

[Player0]

"There is an element of support for this travesty in the death community"

The death community has never been known for their morals ;)

[Gibbon]

this is a tricky one for lots of issues but Player you summed it up well...

The whole prospect of genetic engineering and the terrible ethical situations it creates, frankly terrifies me...

[speculative]

Bah, it always simply comes down to people's psychology:

1. They are afraid of change
2. Therefore, they don't want to change
3. They want to be accepted so they don't have to change
4. They want to have a deaf baby so they will be accepted by their other family members
5. This is simple co-dependency, purposefully created... :/

I would liken those sentiments in the deaf community to those of a cult, frankly. ;)

[BigBen]

Hi,
This morning on early morning BBC TV they had some deaf people on to discuss it and they seemed to think its fine to create a deaf baby...its up to the parents its there child seemed to be there attitude :mad: Suddenly I have gone right off this genetic engineering :mad: I thought the idea was to get rid of problems not create them!!!


Regards

[JohnyX]

We already have a legal precidence regarding this. It's the woman's body, she can do with it as she pleases. If it can not be argued that an unborn child has a right to their life, how will you argue that it has a right to it's hearing with any credibility?

[jema]

Originally posted by JohnyX
We already have a legal precidence regarding this. It's the woman's body, she can do with it as she pleases. If it can not be argued that an unborn child has a right to their life, how will you argue that it has a right to it's hearing with any credibility?

totally different issues, and very dangerous to mix up.

jema

[JohnyX]

I can't really argue with you on that, I probably sit on the same side of the fence.

But I also live in a country where the public display of the Constitution can be argued as unconstitutional because it mentions God, and therefore is unconstitutional due to "separation of church and state". How much longer before the Constitution is deemed unconstitutional?

All you really need is a judge that will interpret the law instead of uphold the law and what I stated about genetically engineering a child could become reality here in the states. After all, we are guaranteed, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and not being able to have a deaf child if I want to interferes with my pursuit.

The ability to engineer out genetic defects is rather exciting as it does open alot of doors regarding longevity, inproved health, less money spent on genetic illnesses, etc. It also might help to solve the debate of choice of life style vrs genetically predisposed or all of the above.

But I digress.

I can't comprehend a parent that willingly would want to concieve a child with deafness compaired to one with normal hearing. Can you imaging the conversation at that house when the child finds out they are deaf because the parents wanted them that way? I want you to have a rough life in a world not designed for you so I can relate to you while you are growning up.

[dicki]

ouch, can you imagine that conversation! teenage hormones and the new knowledge that your own parents effectivly crippled you, justifiable homicide anyone?

i think i'm sitting on both sides of the fence on this whole genetic engineering issue... i agree that people should be allowed to experiment with stem cells, make clones, experiment and generally tinker... infact i don't believe it can be stopped... if we know a thing can be done we will do it just for the sheer hell of it, it's human nature... it could make us great but it will probably kill us, either way things will be interesting.

on the otherside of the coin the idea of deliberatly engineering your child with defects is a bit sick and should be stopped at all costs. personal freedom only applies when it only affects your own person, the second your actions affect other people your freedom is gone. if you want to cut out your own ear drums go for it and good luck to you, try and do it to your kid or anyone else then you should be put in prison for a very long time

dicki