Deliberately Choosing to have Deaf Children

Thanks to GeekPress for the link to a Slate piece about this report showing some fertility clinics have helped couples deliberately select defective embryos (e.g., those that will be deaf). I agree that this is very disturbing to say the least. No mention of parents deliberately choosing embryos that will develop to be blind, lacking a particular limb, having asthma, or having celiac disease or various food or other allergies. I have no idea what types of things can or cannot be tested for and selected for or against, so maybe some of those aren't possible (or at least not yet).

The argument that the parents want the child to be a part of the deaf culture is ridiculous: it is a rationalization of the worst kind. Kids can, and if born to deaf parents, likely will learn sign language and be a part of that community anyway. There is no good reason to cripple them by taking away one of their five senses. Let them hear music. Let them hear speech. Let them hear. To actively select for genes that will produce a deaf child is cruel and evil.