Network spotlights bioethics

Two Penn professors brought some issues in bioethics to the forefront last night at a forum held downtown. "If of nothing else, Philly is the capital of bioethics," said Glenn McGee, associate director for education at Penn's Center for Bioethics, who spoke alongside Pasquale Patrizio, a School of Medicine professor and director of Penn's male infertility service at an event produced by WHYY last night. The station conducted a town meeting to create an opportunity to discuss issues raised in the recently broadcast PBS series "Our Genes/Our Choices." The two Penn lecturers spoke on a range of issues associated with genetics. The discussion covered a wide spectrum of topics, from biotechnology's influence on the architecture of the WHYY studio to the similarities between Oldsmobile's slogan, "It's not your father's Oldsmobile" and the progression and expansion of genetic testing. The topic of genetic screening's impact on health and life insurance was a heavily addressed issue as well. McGee went so far as to say that biotechnology's advances have opened a "Pandora's box for insurance." McGee and Patrizio discussed the prerogatives and possible dangers of insurance companies having access to genetic testing results and further using the information to raise premiums or deny clients insurance based on susceptibility to certain diseases. According to McGee, there are a handful of states that already have laws against genetic discrimination in both health and life insurance in place. He cited California and New Jersey as two examples. He also noted that around $1 million could be saved by choosing not to carry to term a baby diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, one of the most common genetic disorders for which parents can test. "A company can save money by keeping some people out of the gene pool -- like lifeguarding," McGee said. Aside from the business and financial end of the genetic testing consequences, Patrizio briefly addressed the moral complications. "In 20 to 30 years [genetic testing] is going to put in crisis the world of religions," Patrizio said. "'What is the role of God?' raises a completely new set of questions." Patrizio also predicted that in 10 years, the focus in the field will be not only in knowing the genes but also in knowing their real function in the human body. The town meeting was affiliated with WHYY's Wider Horizons program, which focuses on providing informative programming concerning issues associated with aging. The dialogue was available for live viewing over the Internet, and McGee and Patrizio fielded questions posed by national viewers who virtually participated through a moderated online chat room.

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