[Fetal life] [Expenses] [Survival] [Termination]
[Natural Selection]
[The Mother's Story]
[What can we treat ?]
ARE WE MEDDLING WITH NATURAL SELECTION ? |
It was said when nuclear power was discovered. It was said when genetic engineering became the fashion of the day. It will doubtless be said about fetal cardiac intervention.
Well, how correct is it anyway ?
My views on this issue are ambivalent. I feel there is something to be said for both sides of the matter. Let me try and explain.
The "Natural Selection Theory" that the fittest shall rule the earth seems correct in a general sense. By this law, persons with severe disease succumbed at an early age. As medicine progressed, many of these patients have survived their "natural history". BUT - AND HERE IS THE CATCH -they do not seem to be a "weaker" subset in terms of survival. The survivors of complex congenital heart disease correction have gone on to achieve success in various walks of life. And these are the "less-fit" persons of the Natural Selection Theory !
On the distaff side, there is the unquestionable association of cardiac anomalies with disorders of other systems - perhaps these are individuals with a defective "gene-pool".
That fetal cardiac surgery will interfere with `Natural Selection' is undoubted. Whether it will be beneficial or detrimental remains uncertain. Personally, I do not feel that concerns about this are in any way relevant to deciding for or against fetal surgery.
If indeed this were a major deciding issue, then the very concept of medical care would need to be re-analyzed in this light....and of course, that is silly - to say the least. If such a situation arises, it will have to be tackled at that time.
Till then, here we go....onwards and forwards !
Feedback
Home
Fun
New
Contents
Awards
Thanks
Hearts
Get your own Free Home Page
Designed by Dr.S.SIVASUBRAMANIAN / sivaraj@giasmd01.vsnl.net.in