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Non-invasive prenatal genetic testing - a moral maze?

Event: ESRC Festival of Social Science
Date: 16 Mar 2010 19:00


Speaker(s):

Speakers, or 'witnesses', will include Helen Wallace, director of GeneWatch UK, Jane Fisher, director of the charity ARC (Antenatal Results and Choices), and Susan Kelly and Hannah Farrimond of Egenis.

Organised by:
Egenis
University of Exeter
Byrne House
St German's Road
Exeter, Devon EX4 4PJ

Venue:
Exeter Central Library

 

The Egenis contribution to the Festival will be a public meeting, 'Non-invasive prenatal genetic testing - a moral maze?' This will be a ‘Moral Maze’-type discussion of the issues surrounding the development of non-invasive prenatal genetic diagnosis (NIPD). Recent advances mean that it is becoming possible to screen for a limited variety of genetic conditions through normal blood testing, avoiding the need for risky procedures such as amniocentesis. More expansive prenatal tests, for example, testing for conditions like Down Syndrome, or pre-disposition to disease, are on the horizon. How much do members of the public know about these emerging testing procedures and what do they think? Are the tests viewed as a quicker and easier way to identify genetic disorders before birth, or the thin end of the wedge in a culture that desires 'perfect' babies? Will NIPD improve reproductive health care, or turn all pregnancies into a moral maze? Is NIPD a social good, or a social harm?

Further details:

The event, which will be free and open to all, will be held at Exeter Central Library at 7.00pm on Tuesday, 16 March 2010

email: egenis@genomicsnetwork.ac.uk
tel: +44 (0)1392 269140

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