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From: Ed Feuer
Date: 04 Oct 2011
Time: 11:09:20 -0500
Remote Name: 207.161.157.111
Dennis, let us look to the future. Have the researchers given any thought to the potential ethical, moral and social implications? A couple receives results of genetic screening of their unborn child. They are told, "We found a mutation in certain genes which means your child will have some proclivity to developmental stuttering." Given the very negative public image of stuttering and resulting consequences to which people who stutter (some of the time) can well attest, what does the couple who wants junior to be perfect then do . . . ? What response could you give other than something to the effect: "We're still a very long way from that, so there's no need to worry" or one centred on disputing the use of the term "proclivity" or "perfect." edfeuer@mts.net