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Adoption
and Pre-Adoption Genetic Testing
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Genetic
Testing: Does it Help or Trap the Child? |
In
the time of the Prophet, children were adopted but still retained the name of
their birth parents. This wisdom, passed to Muhammad (saws) in a revelation,
allowed the child to be cared for by his new adoptive parents but still retain a
connection to his origin as well as any pertinent medical or family information
he needed. Today, however, adoptive children can be transferred between states,
across the globe and between countries. Furthermore, modern adoptive laws
require that all records of the child’s origin either be destroyed or filed in
secret files. However, rather than tap into the wisdom of the Muslim way of
adoption to solve the medical problems associated with their method, agencies
have started to use genetic testing as a way to unanimously file medical
information on adoptive children. However, this information, once filed, has the
potential to harm the child rather than serve them in life.
Before
Islam prohibited legalized adoption, Prophet Muhammad (saw) adopted Zaid ibn
Harithah. He became Zaid ibn Muhammad. Then it was declared “…nor has He
made those whom you assert to be your sons your real sons; these are the words
of your mouths; and Allah speaks the truth and He guides to the way. Assert
their relationship to their fathers, this is more equitable with Allah; but if
you do not know their fathers, then they are your brethren in faith and your
friends; and there is no blame on you concerning that in which you made a
mistake, but [concerning] that which your hearts do purposely [blame may rest on
you], and Allah is Forgiving. Merciful (Surat ul Ahzab 33: 4-5).
Muslims
therefore can adopt children and raise them as their own but the child must
remain legally the child of their birthparents. Following this declaration Zaid
reclaimed the name of his father, and in deed, Prophet Muhammad (saw) continued
to care for and advise him (Arafat, p.1, 2).
This
continues today. Even in the midst of their plight, the surviving Afghans take
in children whose parents have died (Rall, p.2). In the case of Bosnia and
Herzegovina, hundreds of children have been rescued and "adopted" by
church organizations in Italy, Germany and France for example, when no Muslim
country opened their doors to these children (Arafat, p.1). Across the globe, in
fact, millions of children are adopted each year.
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What
will genetic testing do to Afghani Children? |
However,
this process causes another process years later - the search for the adoptive
parents. The National Adoption Information Clearinghouse estimates over 60,000
Americans search for their birthparents or their birth-child. Judges will only
accept sufficient grounds to open sealed adoption records. There is no unifying
federal legislation that governs information access rights of birthparents or
other birth-relatives and adoptees. Some states use an affidavit system whereby
the concerned parties can
place a prior written consent for the release of identifying information into
the adoption file (Burns, p.1-3).
However,
even if the records are released to the adopted child they may not contain all
the information they are seeking. In the case of recessive or carrier genetic
disorders, an accurate diagnosis may be desired. However, if the birthparents
are aware at the time of giving their child up for adoption, they also had to
confront the decision of how much medical information they should pass on. Some
parents chose to pass on little or no information in the fear that their child
would be rejected for adoption. In some cases, the birthparents themselves might
not learn until years later that they have a genetic disorder. In such cases it
is equally hard for the birthparent to trace their child. (Burns, p.1).
Because
of these problems adoption agencies have greatly increased the medical
information requirements of adoptive children. This information is used to
determine the type of medical screening required for the child. Information is
also required from the birth-relatives, including ethnic origin and racial
heritage as in the case of the childhood neurological disorder Tay-Sachs
experienced by Ashkenazi Jews (Lauren, p.1). In some diseases, pre-knowledge of
the disease could prevent onset of the disease. And in modern adoptive
procedures this may even involve genetic testing.
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DNA
is the latest tool agencies are using to “file” adoptive children. |
However,
setting up genetic-testing to predetermine adoption places the child under a
state of anxiety, causes low self-esteem and uncertainty for the future if they
are rejected. They may also be rejected for jobs or insurance later in life if
this “handicap” is entered onto their records. If they have a recessive or
carrier genetic disorder, there is no guarantee that it will manifest, but being
on their record can still cause them harm.
Furthermore,
increased tests and treatment regimes hold no proven benefit. For example
pre-symptomatic diagnosis of cystic fibrosis has yet to demonstrate any medical
benefit. It will only reap the burden of increased medical costs and unnecessary
treatments. The child will feel defective, guilt-ridden or misplaced. Adoption
in Islam is the pleasure of rearing a child who may not legally be adopted but
holds the psychological satisfaction in the caring of a child as ones own. As a
mother giving birth, one has no guarantees to the future health of the child.
One does the best one can. Genetically testing children interferes with this
process (ASHG, p.1-4).
Rather
than be a solution, the facts of genetic testing are more realistic. Genetic
testing has increased the range of disorders that can be diagnosed, but the
initial diagnosis is established by other methods and it is dependent on the
physician’s ability to interpret accurately. One has to be fully conversant
with the probabilities of nature (AAP, p.1). Furthermore, some ethicists argue
that the recommendations of the American College of Medical Genetics should
include homes where families are prepared for any special responsibilities and
preemptive measures like diet can be taken (Reuters, p.1). Even though this
argument sounds reasonable, it falls short when the child is not adopted for a
disease that no one can truly say will manifest and burdens the child that is
adopted.
At
the end of the day adoption is not an arena suitable for the idea of genetic
testing. As Sayed Mumtaz ‘Ali argues “The motivating factor behind the
Muslims quest for knowledge in the scientific fields was primarily to understand
the creation of Allah (swt) so as to be drawn closer to their Creator. It was
never their aim to exploit nature selfishly nor to dominate it as rivals to
Allah (swt) nor to exert control over life and death” (‘Ali p.11).
Sources:
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