Introduction
Full genome sequencing is a testing procedure that assesses the genes of newborns and creates a list of diagnoses and conditions that the child may have or develop in the future. Currently, families can ask for a blood test that can find only some disorders that are acknowledged by each separate state. However, the existing procedures may not be enough to protect children’s health, as the story by Rochman indicates. The speed of innovations suggests that the government should offer gene sequencing in the following years. Families that plan on having a child may also benefit from such regular tests if they are educated and prepared to handle the information responsibly. If scientific research succeeds in making this procedure inexpensive and accessible, there should be no complications for the society to implement it into regular check-ups to avoid health complications in infants.
Family
Full genome sequencing should be available to parents because it may help them and their child to have a long and fulfilling life. The example provided by Rochman illustrates the outcomes of inadequate testing – the child died months after being born because the state failed to include a condition in its list of necessary diagnostics. Thus, this event can be considered a failure of the medical system to protect a human from a potentially avoidable danger. If full genome sequencing was offered to the mother and she agreed, the child could have survived and lived a healthy life. Some potential adverse outcomes may include parents becoming too overwhelmed by the conclusions of the test. However, the ability of sequencing to save lives overweighs the dangers because it allows healthcare providers to predict developing conditions and lower infant death rates.
Science
Apart from searching for new treatments, medical research strives to innovate screenings and make all procedures more available to people. Thus, it makes sense that scientists would decide to include genome sequencing into the list of standard diagnostic tests. The issue lies inadequate staffing and the availability of equipment for scientists and care providers (Rochman). Nonetheless, if new studies find a way to make this procedure accessible to everyone, then the growing demand for sequence testing will be met with resources from the government. From the science’s point of view, progress is positive if it provides people with opportunities to improve health or know more about their conditions and bodies than they did before.
Society
The issue of accessibility of health care to all members is the primary concern of society. However, the implementation of full gene sequencing may create a new level of preventive health care. Rochman notes that the child in the example was treated with various medications in the hospital. Arguably, the used drugs and the work of medical forces were more expensive than a sequencing test could be. Moreover, this care for the child was time-consuming, and his condition did not improve as a result (Rochman). This time, as well as the medicine, could be utilized to care for another person if healthcare providers knew about the boy’s problem. Such comprehensive diagnostics may provide medical workers with an efficient way of preserving and delegating limited resources.
Conclusion
Full gene sequencing is a procedure that provides insight into a child’s present and future. If people make decisions and take precautions knowing about their child’s arising problems, they can prevent devastating disorders from developing. The science should be focused on making the test accessible to meet the increasing needs of the population. This test may elevate the current state of preventive medicine and help healthcare providers to manage their resources by eliminating the need to make guesses about infants’ treatment.
Work Cited
Rochman, Bonnie. “Full Genome Sequencing for Newborns Raises Questions.”Scientific American. 2017, Web.