I remember a few years ago when this topic was in hot debate, we started to worry about whether insurance companies would refuse to insure someone because of a genetic predisposition.
Now the debate is on whether you would like to know if you have the genes for say, colon cancer early.
Would I choose to fall in love, marry, have children, buy a home, etc if I knew I couldn't see it all through, that some genetic mutation was going to keep me from living happily ever after?
And does this keep the earlier fears from again rearing their ugly heads and because of this information, we are refused health insurance, or life insurance, or a mortgage, or car insurance.
If the medical community could guarantee me a cure and the government could guarantee me that I could get insurance and such, then maybe.
BUT
If having this genetic defect was going to impact my life then no, I wouldn't want to know, I'd like to stay unaware and happy and deal with the disease when/if I had to.
What do you think?
3 hours ago
5 COMMENTS:
Definitely stay unaware! Who wants to live with the knowledge that they may well die young? Horrible thought!
I would not want to know anything. Having that sort of knowledge would have a big impact. It's better to just take life as it comes to you!
I think the health insurance issue was recently solved, but I'm not sure if this is a done deal or something still in the works. If that wouldn't be a problem, and, like you said, if it was something curable, then I would want to know. Otherwise, I don't know that I would. There would be many factors. For example, if I only had a year to live, I might make some different choices knowing that I didn't need to be saving for retirement.
Mama Flo, this is such a great question! Thinking about it took me awhile but after seeing how your question was posed, I would still want to know....I am just not sure when. Sometimes just because a person has access to information does not mean they are ready to do anything with it. I have known that cigarettes were bad for as long as I can remember but continued to smoke anyway! I mean, both my parents died of cancer at young ages so you think I would have gotten a clue long before I did. I would definetly NOT want the insurence company to find out expecially if it meant I could not get insurenced or would be discriminated against.
I could go on and on about this question and may do my own blog about it. I am so interested in DNA research and have been for many years! I am getting more and more excited that I am going to get to learn more about DNA and geneology and likage this summer. (Anyone my age or older, remember how ALex Haley's "Roots" sparked a reserching of family linage during the 70's?)
Anyway, this whole subject is really personal for me. I found out about 15 years ago that my parents may not be my bioliogical parents but I have never really felt a great need to prove it one way or the other. I have always been curious but nervous to really look into it. I think I am finally ready to learn more about it. I will let you guys know.
Peace,
Diva
i'm with you mamaflo. i wouldn't want to know unless i could be helped.
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