Saving Babies?: The Consequences of Newborn Genetic Screening

Every baby born in the United States is screened for more than fifty genetic disorders. Though the early detection of these abnormalities can potentially save lives, the test also has a high percentage of false positives. Some doctors are questioning whether the benefits of these screenings outweigh the stress and pain they sometimes produce. Stefan Timmermans evaluates the consequences and benefits of state-mandated newborn screening—and the larger policy questions they raise about the inherent inequalities in American medical care that limit the effectiveness of this potentially lifesaving technology. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 25279]