Chapter 15, Problem 2CS

Six months pregnant, an expectant mother had a routine ultrasound that showed that the limbs of the fetus were unusually short. Her physician suspected that the baby might have a genetic form of dwarfism called achondroplasia, an autosomal dominant trait occurring with a frequency of about 1 in 27,000 births. The parents were directed to a genetic counselor to discuss this diagnosis. In the conference, they learned that achondroplasia is caused by a mutant allele. Sometimes it is passed from one generation to another, but in 80 percent of all cases it is the result of a spontaneous mutation that arises in a gamete of one of the parents. They also learned that most children with achondroplasia have normal intelligence and a normal life span.

It has been suggested that prenatal genetic testing for achondroplasia be made available and offered to all women. Would you agree with this initiative? What ethical considerations would you consider when evaluating the medical and societal consequences of offering such testing?