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Article: Should newborn screening be expanded to include rare, potentially disabling conditions?(Pro & Con)
- Article from:
- Pediatric News
- Article date:
- March 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 International Medical News Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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YES
A fundamental tenet of newborn screening is proven benefit to the infant, traditionally limiting newborn screening to conditions for which there are identifiable treatments known to alter the course of the disease. Many genetic conditions causing mental retardation and developmental disabilities (MRDD) do not meet this standard as currently applied.
Given the rapid pace of advances in genetic screening for MRDD, it may be time to consider a broader conceptualization of benefit. While a cure or medical treatment is not currently available for most conditions causing MRDD, expanded newborn screening could result in a host of other beneficial outcomes. ...