In these pages we have been glad of the approval in Spain of the genetic selection of embryos for therapeutic purposes, and of the first cases of preimplantation diagnoses carried out by the National Commission of Assisted Reproduction.
Although now we talk about the case of using the same technique but in order to that children are not born free of defects. Some time ago we realized a study that revealed in the US how some parents use embryo selection so that their children have the same genetic defect as them.
We return to this controversial issue, because new news about it has jumped today. A deaf British couple wants to use genetic selection so their child can't hear either. It seems to me personally an egoistic decision, since I would like to know what the baby who is on the way thinks about it and what would he do if he could choose.
I don't know if I would agree with what parents think: that being deaf is positive and has many wonderful aspects. And, while it is true that a deaf person can lead a life practically like that of a listener, he is deprived of a sense that most human beings enjoy.
Not only does the possibility of a child being born with the same deafness of their parents not be left to nature, but any option for children to be born without such a defect is eliminated. Embryos, say, "healthy", would be discarded.
These parents (he "artist" and designer, she theater director) will be able to do a normal life, but they know that they are deprived of enjoying the sound of the waves or the Goldberg Variations. I, although I had never heard them, and only for those 2 sounds, if I could, would I never deny it to my daughter.
In addition, I imagine that many other deaf people who have not been as fortunate as these parents and who have found obstacles in their path and in their personal development (which there are also), must be stunned to this intention.
The couple already has a three-year-old daughter who can't hear and they say that "celebrated" the news that she was born deaf. Now they want to have a second child, and if they don't achieve it naturally they will try it by in vitro fertilization. In the latter case it would be when they would use genetic selection so that their baby is born deaf.
They have met with the refusal of the British Parliament since, according to the country's regulations, embryos that possess a gene that can cause physical or mental dysfunction must be rejected in favor of those who do not have it, something that the British couple sees like a deaf discrimination, which also consider themselves proud to belong to a "linguistic minority."
Now the disgust reaction of my deaf teacher comes to mind when in class sign language Attendees of the course from time to time escaped us without bad intention and carelessly some phrases between us. She looked really angry and helpless and we just understood that this was rude on our part, although quite inevitable.
Anyway, what I would like to keep hearing more and more is that there are children who can cure their siblings at birth after a genetic selection. But not cases like these in which, consciously, the children are deprived of some faculty. What do our readers think?
