Between responsibility and desire: Accounts of reproductive decisions from those at risk for or affected by late-onset neurological diseases

Mendes, Álvaro, Sequeiros, Jorge and Clarke, Angus J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1200-9286 2021. Between responsibility and desire: Accounts of reproductive decisions from those at risk for or affected by late-onset neurological diseases. Journal of Genetic Counseling 30 (5) , pp. 1480-1490. 10.1002/jgc4.1415

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Abstract

This paper explores ways in which genetic risk foregrounds forms of responsibility while dealing with reproduction. We analyzed individual and family semi-structured interviews (n = 35) with people at-risk for or affected by transthyretin-related familial amyloid polyneuropathy (TTR-FAP) and Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), which are late-onset neurological diseases. Although generally considered as rare diseases, some areas in Portugal present the world's highest frequency for MJD and TTR-FAP. Thematic analysis of the data revealed that participants drew on various – sometimes ambivalent and competing – understandings of their genetic risk and their wish to have children. Some participants perceived the avoidance of genetic risk to be responsible behavior, while, for others, responsibility entailed accepting risks because they prioritized values such as parenthood, family relationships and the value of life, above any question of genetic disease. Some participants shared accounts that were fraught with ambivalence, repentance and guilt, especially when children were born before participants knew of their own or their partner's risk. Participants’ accounts also showed they make continued efforts to see themselves as responsible persons and to appear responsible in the eyes of others. We discuss findings in the context of participants’ negotiation between genetic risk and their sense of responsibility toward themselves and others; we conclude that “genetic responsibility” is present not only in accounts of those who chose not to have children but also in those who make an informed decision to have at-risk children.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine
Publisher:	Wiley
ISSN:	1059-7700
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	31 August 2021
Date of Acceptance:	21 February 2021
Last Modified:	06 Nov 2023 22:55
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/143753

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