--- Ronn! Blankenship <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Deborah Harrell wrote: > >--- Jon Gabriel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
<snipped> [deb]Well, single-gene defects like "bubbleboy disease" > >(severe combined immune deficiency) are under > >experimental 'attack' even as we speak (that > protocol was temporarily halted when one of the ~9 >boys developed leukemia, but oversight panel(s) have > since > >reinstated the trial) - so the time for discussion > is now. A chromosomal mutation like Down's (trisomy > 21), > >on the other hand, doesn't appear amenable (to me) > to gene therapy, although it is discoverable if > chorionic > >villi sampling or amniocentesis are done... > > Wouldn't the financial burden of raising a child > with such problems without > outside help perhaps effectively constitute an > imposition of choice? AFAIK, Medicare/Medicaid help a lot with these cases, at least in the US. I suspect nations with national health care also give substantial financial aid. In the developing world, I don't think prenatal diagnosis is available to the bulk of the populace. [jon]> > I think the key word here is "offered". Most > > >...theories on this subject, IMO, seem > paranoid... > > > like our culture will force cures... > > > If a _communicable_ disease threatens large > > > population groups then we can > > > logically expect to see vaccines and cures > become mandatory by law. > > [deb] >As is the case with school vaccines (although > parents > >can, in many states IIRC, opt out b/c of religious > >beliefs), and treatment for tuberculosis is also > >mandated (at least in the states I've worked in). > > However, some people don't complete the course of > treatment, which has led > to drug-resistant strains of TB. Yes, which is why in at least some states there is 'directly observed treatment' (see prior post). [jon]> > ...But, when a disease affects specific groups > and is > > > non-communicable except from parent to child > through genetics, then IMO > > > such mandatory laws are highly unlikely to be > > > enacted. > > > >Probably not, although courts do become involved in > >the treatment of minors. But what parent would not > >want a cure for such devastating diseases? > Christian Scientists? I don't remember the affiliation of the western Colorado group for which I posted a link earlier this thread; there are several, however. Debbi __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
