The Ethics Of Denying Treatment

Occasionally, truth is not only stranger than fiction; it offers more hope.
The film “Still Alice,” like the novel of the same title upon which it was based, centers on a brilliant and accomplished 50-year-old woman who develops early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. It is a genetic condition, and Alice is presented with a 50-50 chance that each of her three children may eventually experience the same deterioration. In the film as in real life, there is no cure and, should any of the children test positive for the genetic defect, presently no hope. “Still Alice,” which drew even more attention after lead actress Julianne Moore won an Oscar for her performance, was widely praised for highlighting the struggles of people affected by early-onset Alzheimer’s and their loved ones.
But while the fictional characters in “Still Alice” must face their genetic destiny, science offers hope to those who suffer the genetic defect but have not yet developed full-blown Alzheimer’s. Advancements in genetic manipulation have raised the possibility of treatments or cures for Alzheimer’s and other genetic conditions, allowing patients to avoid the worst effects. Perhaps even more importantly for some, advances may soon allow carriers of risky genetic markers to avoid passing such risks on to their children.
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