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FCI Responds to L.A. Designer Baby Controversy

Monday, 16 March 2009 16:32

News has surfaced that an L.A. fertility clinic is now offering and marketing the concept of “designer babies” – the option for parents-to-be to pick physical traits such as gender, eye color, hair color, height, complexion and more, through the medical screening of embryos. Controversy has ensued as advanced technology in Embryo cell analysis was initially created to identify dangerous diseases and defects in unborn children. The director of the clinic – who was also in the medical team involved in creating the world’s first test tube baby - is undeterred by the controversy and views designer babies as simply another scientific advancement.

While embryo selection remains a contentious issue due to debates on gender selection and non life-threatening uses, the medical uses of techniques such as Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) not only saves pregnancies, but also improves the quality and life expectancy of unborn children. Used in conjunction with IVF, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is a state of the art procedure used to select specific embryos, free of chromosomal abnormalities or specific genetic disorders, for transfer to the Uterus. The cutting edge technique may reduce recurrent miscarriage rates, as well as decrease the chance of pregnancy with a child that has severe physical problems, developmental delay or mental retardation. PGD is commonly used to screen for many genetic conditions related to abnormal chromosome numbers called Aneuploidy, such Down Syndrome, Turners Syndrome and Kleinfelters Syndrome, and can also screen for specific diseases such as cystic fibrosis. Scientifically, PGD is an amazing technology that allows for the identification of abnormal embryos which in the end may limit disease. When used for medical reasons, it can provide a tremendous amount of hope for couples struggling with Infertility in addition to saving heartache and time by identifying embryos that may be doomed to miscarry, prior to pregnancy.

As one of the nation’s leading fertility clinics, Fertility Centers of Illinois conducts continual research to improve the clinical application of PGD and has had years of experience working with leaders in the field. However, the marketing of these techniques to offer patients “designer babies” will continue to spur hot debate among fertility experts and industry professionals, but it is important that the technology be used appropriately. As genetic analysis advances, the industry must understand that just because we can doesn’t mean we do, or should. This is the slippery slope which both doctors and patients must be cognizant; self regulation by individuals as well as organizations is critical.