Background: When children suffer severe genetic disorders and require stem-cell
transplantation, compatible donors may be unavailable. Then preimplantation
genetic diagnosis (PGD) may identify some whose gestation and birth would
produce unaffected newborns, and placental and cord blood from which stem-cells
compatible for implantation in sick siblings can be derived. Discarding of
healthy but unsuitable embryos and choosing one for the siblings’ end is the matter
of ethical concern. This study was performed to evaluate the different views
for PGD. Methods: A 5 question questionnaire was used, that we could understand the
degree of their opinion with a score (-2,-1,0,+1,+2). This questionnaire was
distributed among ordinary people, university students (not medical), medical
university students, diagnosed patients (AML, CML, NHL, and HL), teachers of
religion and educational hospital attending. Number and percentage of each
score in each group was calculated. Findings: Among 502 ordinary people the mean score was -0.66, this rate was
+0.96, +1.52, 0.02, -0.74, +1.02 among non medical university students, medical
students, patients parents, religion teachers and attending respectively.
Religious reasons (42%) among negative opinions and humanity reasons (53%) among
positive opinions were the most. Conclusion: The highest mean score belonged to medical students and the lowest
was religion teachers’. In a religious country religion is influencing people’s
opinions and this should be of a great importance. But parents with a patient
child shouldn’t deprive a method may change their lives and the child’s life
forever. |