Social issues in perinatal screening for sickle cell anemia.

We are living in a time of fascinating scientific achievement in the biomedical field of genetics. The revolutionary methodologies of this biomedical technology produce new ideas and new options for the quality of our life. While this paper is focused on prenatal testing for sickle cell anemia, it simultaneously illustrates the general complexity of public health issues and points out that some emerging scientific values may be more harmful than beneficial to the public because they are inappropriate priorities and do not deal with problems that truly affect the public's health. Special attention is given to issues of ethical significance demonstrating that scientific objectives have been emphasized and that beneficence and respect for persons are principles that have been neglected in Prenatal Sickle Cell interventions. Lastly, this paper advocates social policy to protect the at risk groups from what may become irresponsible public health paternalism.