New Technology Brings New Pressures on Families


 

Publication Date: February 2006

Publisher: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

Author(s): Susannah Baruch

Research Area: Health; Population and demographics

Keywords: Preimplantation genetic diagnosis; In vitro fertilization

Type: Other

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

It remains to be seen to what extent PGD may affect family dynamics. A study has been approved at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston to study the impact of allowing prospective parents to use PGD for sex selection.Yet approval of that single study took nine years, and the data that it provides will be a small piece of the puzzle of what the impact of PGD might be.

For the future,The Genetics and Public Policy Center, in conjunction with IVF and PGD providers, has begun to design a voluntary, national database that will allow future research on the impact of PGD. PGD is an important new option for prospective parents, but the issues it brings to families and family therapy clearly are still emerging.

In Family Therapy Magazine, Jan-Feb 2006, p.19.