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Article
November 1993

Genetic Diagnosis and Treatment: Ethical Considerations

Author Affiliations

From the Clinical Science Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison. Reprints not available.

Am J Dis Child. 1993;147(11):1190-1195. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1993.02160350064009
Abstract

There is a story about a monk who announced that he was leaving the monastery after 25 years. "Is it the food, Brother John?" his superior asked him. "No," he replied, "the food is bad, but I would not leave because of that." "Is it the illumination? Are you concerned about your eyesight?" he was asked. "No," he replied, "The work is tedious, but I would not leave for that reason." "Is it the celibacy?" he was asked. "No," he replied, "like the others, I am lonely, but I took vows with a full awareness of what I was sacrificing, and I would not leave because of that." "Then what is it, why are you leaving?" his exasperated superior wanted to know. "It's just the whole damn thing," Brother John explained.

So it is with the new genetic technologies. They raise no new ethical questions for physicians or patients. There

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