GreenR.M., “Parental Autonomy and the Obligation Not to Harm One's Child Genetically,”Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 25 (1997): 5–15.
2.
See id. at 6.
3.
Id. at 10.
4.
Id. Geneticists and counselors are trained never to suggest to a parent that a lost child or fetus can be replaced by a subsequent child. The lost child generally occupies an absent position in the family, often holding a name or another identity.
5.
Nondirectiveness is not a literal absence of effect of professionals on the decisions that patients make. It is impossible for a health professional not to impart cues to families about his/her views of the decision being faced. Mannerisms, choice of words, vocal inflections, and many other behaviors impart cues to families that can be correctly or incorrectly interpreted to indicate the professional's opinion.
6.
Down syndrome is a common example of this problem. The affected individuals who do not have severe congenital heart defects are generally happy and healthy. However, because of their retardation, they are commonly believed to suffer because of the disorder. The suffering is mainly in the minds of the parents and other caretakers who transfer their views of suffering onto the affected persons.
7.
See Green, supra note 1, at 7.
8.
See id.
9.
Although the debate over maternal substance abuse is contentious, some malformations, such as fetal alcohol syndrome, can be caused by maternal behaviors. Even in this case, the assignment of maternal blame is very unlikely to resolve the issue.
10.
See Green, supra note 1, at 8 (original emphasis).
11.
See id. at 9.
12.
This issue is further complicated by consideration of the value of abnormal children. In Green's analysis, this consideration is conspicuously absent.
