Preimplantation genetic diagnosis: Should parents know everything about their unborn children?

what are the investigations on embryos ethically justifiable? Particularly controversial pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PID). This is also reflected in the legislation: interference with in vitro embryos are only allowed to a limited extent. “Research on embryos, such as, for example, the PID, only with the approval by an ethics Commission,” explains Elke Holinski-Feder, the managing Director and main shareholder of the “Medical-Genetic center” (MGZ), a Medical care centre in Munich.

The GMT is the biggest PID-centre of Germany. It specializes in consulting and diagnostics in the human genetic field. Sales in 2017 in the low two-digit million range. The PID has a share of nearly 5 percent. The centre arose from a diagnostic laboratory at the University. Disease-causing genetic changes in the development occurred in the early embryonic also completely new, and are neither predictable nor preventable says Holinski-Feder. “Life is not without risk.”

Each year, the MGZ care of 4000 patients with genetic diseases. It is spread over eight locations and has 125 employees, including twelve Physicians. Thanks to an approval by the competent Ministry, it is allowed to perform as one of ten centres in Germany, PID. Since 2015, it has made nearly 150 applications for a PID, around 120 approved by an ethics Commission.

funds

not pay A PID cost of artificial insemination and genetic diagnosis, approximately 10,000 euros, and in the case of a repetition of 5000 Euro. Such costs will not be borne according to the “Doctors” of the statutory health insurance Fund. In the case of a limited fertility which health insurance covers at least part of the costs for artificial insemination, but not for the genetic diagnosis. “This treatment can’t afford every Pair,” says Holinski-Feder.

in General, the allowances for human set of genetic services against the Background of the technical development in the genetic analysis of repeated since 2010. The last Change that you have given it in the third quarter of 2016, according to the senior Doctor.

In the MGZ, the PID does not contribute to the profit. Human genetic laboratories, which offer, among other things, PID, according to Holinski-spring propagated for sale. This curl large, mostly foreign laboratory chains, the increase in the human genetics to a good start in the German market. You would have the “financial resources to compensate for deficits and to nevertheless have to invest in expensive devices for genetic diagnostics”. Meanwhile, at least 40 percent of all human be sold genetic laboratories in Germany.