Vital to know risks involved ahead of time

Dr Wong, who is showing an enlarged image of stained human cervical cells, says patients must know what they want to test for so the lab can look for the mutation within the patient’s genes.

SUPPORT groups for those with genetically inherited diseases are advocating for the Health Ministry to support premarital and prenatal genetic screening to spare children from a life of severe hereditary disorders.

“The intention is to take stock of things from a medical point of view. You don’t want to find fault with each other if you end up with a child with lifetime ailment. Once you know what to expect, acceptance and coping becomes easier,” said Persatuan Sindrom Prader-Willi Malaysia president Azhar Talib.