Letters to the Editor

No full disclosure

To the Editor:

Michael Salamon, whom I generally admire, criticizes the groundbreaking organization Dor Yeshorim based on a system of secular medical ethics. (Re: Knowing the results, May 20) Dor Yeshorim, however, was created under the guidance of leading Torah sages following Jewish ethics.

Dr. Salamon apparently wants Dor Yeshorim to fully disclose results to those who submit samples, which would include teenagers. Yet, sages such as Rabbi Moshe Feinstein zt’’l, understood that only by informing potential couples of a genetic "mismatch" without disclosing the exact genetic problem would our youth be able to date without psychological ramifications that, Rabbi Feinstein judged, might cause some people to confuse carrier status with harboring disease.

The rabbis who helped establish Dor Yeshorim understood what Dr. Salamon seemingly does not: that disclosing the results of such tests to some young people in our community would result in needless psychological distress, and could, counter-productively, hamper the encouragement that parents and schools provide young people in our community to get these important, confidential tests. Anyone who desires more information can, of course, get tested by any of the myriad of genetic testing centers, where genetic counselors will disclose the results and discuss "options" from a secular ethical perspective.

No one should arrogate from his armchair to criticize, on the basis of secular ethics, an organization that was created with the guidance of Torah authorities and has benefitted the Jewish community beyond measure.

Dr. Leon Zacharowicz
Far Rockaway

Dr. Zacharowicz is co-founder of Yarchei Kallah on Medical Halacha,
and a member of the Chayim Aruchim project in medical ethics at Agudath Israel.