THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Friday, July 30, 1982

Do We Need
Genetic Counseling?

Many birth defects are genetic in origin: the
baby inherits the disease from one or both
parents. Sometimes the disease is related to
the parents' ethnic background — sickle cell
anemia is more common among blacks,
thalassemia is more prevalent among persons
of Mediterranean descent, and Tay-Sachs
disease usually strikes children of Eastern
European Jewish parentage.'

In some cases, parents can be tested to see if
they carry genes which may cause diseases or
birth defects.

Some genetic diseases, including neural tube
deficiencies such as spina bifida) seem to run
in families. Others, including Down's
syndrome, can be related to the age of the
parents. Testing during pregnancy can often
detect these problems.

If anyone in your family has had a genetic
disease, if you are from an ethnic group which
is prone to a genetic disease, or if you are
over the age of 35, you may want to consider
genetic counseling before you decide to have
children.

Mothers and Infants Center,

Sinai Hospital of Detroit

Sinai Hospital
Has The Answer

For free booklets dealing with pregnancy and
prenatal health, or for more information on
maternal/fetal medicine, write to: Sinai Hospital
of Detroit, Hospital and Community Relations
Department, 6767 West Outer Drive, Detroit,
Michigan 48235. Or call 493-5500.