Marsha suggested to the nurse at the local family planning clinic that if the baby were a boy he might have a higher risk for developing the disease, just like his grandfather. If you were this Practitioner, how would you respond?

If I were the nurse at the local family planning clinic, I would respond to Marsha’s suggestion by reassuring her that there is no scientific evidence to suggest a higher risk for disease based solely on gender. If I were the nurse at the local family planning clinic, I would tell Marsha that there is no scientific evidence to suggest a higher risk of disease based solely on gender. While this situation is not applicable to this patient, it’s still important that they are aware of the medical history in their families. Certain conditions may run in their families.

I would then recommend that if Marsha does have concerns about her baby’s future health she should speak with her primary care provider or pediatrician once the baby is born so that they can better assess any possible risks based on both her personal and familial medical history—and provide proper guidance/recommendations accordingly. In order to achieve the best outcome, consider additional services like prenatal tests or genetic counselling if necessary.