Ethics of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis: PGD Risks
This paper examines the ethical dimensions of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), a technique that tests early embryos for genetic mutations before implantation. The paper argues that PGD should not be routinely recommended for all couples, as it is not a medically necessary procedure and carries real limitations, including inaccuracy, risk of embryo trauma, false positives, false negatives, and significant cost. It identifies specific patient groups — including older mothers, those with recurrent miscarriages, and carriers of chromosomal abnormalities — for whom PGD may be justified. The paper concludes that PGD is best treated as an optional procedure recommended only when clear medical risk factors are present.
- Introduction: PGD and the Question of Routine Use: PGD defined; routine recommendation questioned on ethical grounds
- Medical Exceptions That Justify PGD: High-risk patient groups where PGD may be warranted
- Risks Associated With PGD Testing: Embryo trauma and drawbacks of biopsy technique
- False Positives, False Negatives, and Cost Concerns: Accuracy limitations and financial barriers to PGD
- Conclusion: PGD as an Optional Rather Than Standard Procedure: PGD recommended only for specific risk-factor cases
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper stakes a clear, defensible position from the outset — PGD should not be universally recommended — and maintains that position throughout without hedging unnecessarily.
- It acknowledges exceptions and counterpoints (e.g., high-risk patient groups, moral hazard arguments) rather than ignoring them, which strengthens the overall argument by demonstrating balance.
- Evidence is used precisely: specific risk factors and technical limitations are cited to support claims rather than stated as general assertions.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates qualified argumentation — a technique in which the writer establishes a general claim, then carefully carves out exceptions, and finally reasserts the refined position. This prevents the thesis from appearing absolutist while still delivering a substantive ethical conclusion. The structure mirrors the format commonly used in applied ethics writing: principle, exception, drawback, synthesis.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a definition of PGD and a clear thesis against routine recommendation. The second section identifies patient groups for whom PGD is justified, creating a structured exception. The third and fourth sections address technical and practical drawbacks — embryo trauma, false results, and cost. The conclusion synthesizes these threads into a recommendation that PGD remain optional and targeted. Each paragraph advances the argument in a single logical step.
Introduction: PGD and the Question of Routine Use
Couples should not be routinely encouraged to undergo preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). PGD is a technique that involves "removing cells from the early embryo to test for genetic mutations, which can cause disease" (Morris, 2008). Ethically, there is nothing inherently wrong with using PGD, as it functions essentially as a diagnostic tool and does not cause harm to the mother or the child (Morris, 2008). However, it is also not a medically necessary procedure.
PGD can be used for a number of purposes, but one of the most significant is evaluating embryos for genetic mutations that might cause disease or conditions such as Down's Syndrome. While it is beneficial for parents to be informed about the potential for such conditions, PGD is not a 100% accurate predictor in many cases, and so its results are not necessarily a reliable basis for decisions about the pregnancy. Arguably, such diagnoses can be made after birth more easily and accurately, making that the preferable course of action for most patients. While there is clear benefit to PGD, it is not a medical necessity, and with limited but real risks associated with the procedure, there is no justification for recommending it as a standard course of action. It may be offered as an option, but routine recommendation is not warranted.
Medical Exceptions That Justify PGD
There are exceptions, however, particularly for patients with specific risk factors. Sherbahn (2013) notes that mothers of advanced age — 38 years or older — face greater risk during pregnancy; that mothers with repeated in vitro fertilization (IVF) failure are at heightened risk; and that those with inherited genetic conditions or chromosomal translocations, as well as those with recurrent miscarriages, represent patient groups for whom PGD may be medically necessary or genuinely beneficial. For these patients, PGD could reduce risk to the mother or help avoid passing along genetic abnormalities to the child.
Women over 38 face both a greater risk of chromosomal abnormalities and higher pregnancy risk in general, making them the most clearly indicated candidate group for PGD testing (Sherbahn, 2013). In such cases, a recommendation for PGD can be ethically justified on medical grounds.
Works Cited
Morris, R. (2008). PGD does not cause birth defects or development problems. IVFI. Retrieved April 15, 2013 from http://www.ivf1.com/pgd-no-birth-defects/
Sherbahn, R. (2013). PGD and IVF — pros and cons. Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago. Retrieved April 15, 2013 from http://www.advancedfertility.com/preimplantation_genetic_diagnosis.htm
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