I'm also thinking that the guy probably didn't realize he had autism in the family, or if he did, perhaps didn't realize it's genetic. In hindsight, I believe that my son inherited his Asperger's from my side of the family, but I wouldn't have guessed as much several years ago.
I have to agree that this guy probably didn't know he was a genetic link to ASD. I have one of those family histories that just kinda picks you up and smacks you in the face with it and I didn't see it until my first kid was dx'd. Even then I didn't realize how incredibly prevelent it was. And I mean, common, BOTH my parents are Aspies and my dad's brother is severily autistic to the point of being institutionalized. My DGF on my dad's side was an Aspie, and my DGM on my mom's side is an Aspie. My aunt is an Aspie. My great aunt is a Kanner's 'kid'. Oh... and then I went and married and Aspie, which introduces HIS family history into the mix...
If I didn't see it, I can easily believe he didn't. Of course, I don't have all the info, but it seems to me that these women are just looking for someone to lynch.
I doubt he had any idea. When you say "autism" most people think of classic autism. Unless there have been specific diagnoses in his family or has it himself and knows about it, how would he know?
Going down the sperm bank trail is a slippery slope, anyway, because it isn't regulated and the men are pretty much on the honor system regarding medical disclosure. Kind of freaks me out the tone of that article.
For me it raises a lot of questions about how far things will go in the future when science gets further along in identifying genes associated with certain conditions. I would not have wanted to be "eliminated from the gene pool" and kept from having children -- I can't imagine not having my children or wanting them not to have been born. Nor would I want to abort because my child's genetic make-up didn't fit an ideal profile. When I think of all the loving, wonderful people who wouldn't be here if their genetic profile had been screened, or of the brilliant scientists -- can you imagine no Steven Hawking???? Some of the people who have contributed the most to science/humanity would probably have not made the "cut".
Okay, off my soap box. Sorry for the rant, but DANG!
I had an aunt who passed away about a year ago. She would be now considered classically autistic I do believe, however, she was always labelled as mild/moderate MR. They always blamed the fact that they had to use forceps on her at birth and that type of thing. She lived in a supportive adult group home etc.
My aunt was the sweetest thing in the world. I haven't seen her in years. I was talking to an uncle about a year ago who said he thought she was possibly autistic and it got me thinking back to my childhood and I would have to agree. If she were a child now Aunt Katie would likely be labelled autistic.
However, even being classically autistic like, none of her brothers or neices and nephews would have ever thought to put autism down on any family medical history. We were told she was MR and that it was because they used forceps on her.
BTW, she was my dad's favorite sibling and that whole family of brothers did great with a SN sister. She lived with the family until she was an adult and then lived in supportive living where she held a job, etc.
Tina,
Someone forwarded this to me earlier, and I was just about to post it.
Well, this was
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
I'm also thinking that the guy probably didn't realize he had autism in the family, or if he did, perhaps didn't realize it's genetic. In hindsight, I believe that my son inherited his Asperger's from my side of the family, but I wouldn't have guessed as much several years ago.
Evelyn
I have to agree that this guy probably didn't know he was a genetic link to ASD. I have one of those family histories that just kinda picks you up and smacks you in the face with it and I didn't see it until my first kid was dx'd. Even then I didn't realize how incredibly prevelent it was. And I mean, common, BOTH my parents are Aspies and my dad's brother is severily autistic to the point of being institutionalized. My DGF on my dad's side was an Aspie, and my DGM on my mom's side is an Aspie. My aunt is an Aspie. My great aunt is a Kanner's 'kid'. Oh... and then I went and married and Aspie, which introduces HIS family history into the mix...
If I didn't see it, I can easily believe he didn't. Of course, I don't have all the info, but it seems to me that these women are just looking for someone to lynch.
One of the problems I had on the article was the commented how he only put his grandmother had high BP or something liek that.
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I doubt he had any idea. When you say "autism" most people think of classic autism. Unless there have been specific diagnoses in his family or has it himself and knows about it, how would he know?
Going down the sperm bank trail is a slippery slope, anyway, because it isn't regulated and the men are pretty much on the honor system regarding medical disclosure. Kind of freaks me out the tone of that article.
For me it raises a lot of questions about how far things will go in the future when science gets further along in identifying genes associated with certain conditions. I would not have wanted to be "eliminated from the gene pool" and kept from having children -- I can't imagine not having my children or wanting them not to have been born. Nor would I want to abort because my child's genetic make-up didn't fit an ideal profile. When I think of all the loving, wonderful people who wouldn't be here if their genetic profile had been screened, or of the brilliant scientists -- can you imagine no Steven Hawking???? Some of the people who have contributed the most to science/humanity would probably have not made the "cut".
Okay, off my soap box. Sorry for the rant, but DANG!
Kelly
I totally agree he wouldn't have known.
I had an aunt who passed away about a year ago. She would be now considered classically autistic I do believe, however, she was always labelled as mild/moderate MR. They always blamed the fact that they had to use forceps on her at birth and that type of thing. She lived in a supportive adult group home etc.
My aunt was the sweetest thing in the world. I haven't seen her in years. I was talking to an uncle about a year ago who said he thought she was possibly autistic and it got me thinking back to my childhood and I would have to agree. If she were a child now Aunt Katie would likely be labelled autistic.
However, even being classically autistic like, none of her brothers or neices and nephews would have ever thought to put autism down on any family medical history. We were told she was MR and that it was because they used forceps on her.
BTW, she was my dad's favorite sibling and that whole family of brothers did great with a SN sister. She lived with the family until she was an adult and then lived in supportive living where she held a job, etc.
Renee