Reproduction, ethics and heritable deafness: three South Island families express their views.

Authors

  • Ruth Patricia Fitzgerald University of Otago
  • Hayley Bathard Victoria University, Wellington
  • Rosie Broad
  • Michael Legge University of Otago

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11157/sites-vol10iss2id251

Keywords:

genetic testing, Deaf, deaf, ethics

Abstract

Three consenting South Island (New Zealand) families with experience of living with a heritable type of deafness undertook a series of open ended interviews to ascertain their own views on reproductive decision making and genetic testing. All the families had undergone genetic testing however their orientation to testing in general was cautiously negative. They did not regard deafness as a suitable reason for considering the termination of a pregnancy, although some of the younger adults gave some hesitant consideration to the ‘right to choose’ for others, while rejecting this for themselves. The families were adamant that deafness was not a disability but rather an inconvenience and that only so because a disabling and audist society created certain obstacles in the pathway to achieving good schooling, employment and quality of life.

Author Biographies

Ruth Patricia Fitzgerald, University of Otago

Associate Professor of Social Anthropology Department of Anthropology & Archaeology

Hayley Bathard, Victoria University, Wellington

Master of Arts Candidate

Michael Legge, University of Otago

Associate Professor ( Hon) Biochemistry Department

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Published

11-12-2013

How to Cite

Fitzgerald, R. P., Bathard, H., Broad, R., & Legge, M. (2013). Reproduction, ethics and heritable deafness: three South Island families express their views. Sites: A Journal of Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies, 10(2), 129–149. https://doi.org/10.11157/sites-vol10iss2id251

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Section

Articles