CRISPR could amplify existing social inequalities

Genetically modifying an embryo or adult is not a cheap endeavor. Dr. Mildred Cho, a Stanford bioethicist and professor of pediatrics and medicine, has stated that the financial cost of CRISPR will likely result in many patients being unable to use the technology. She points out that gene therapy is not like getting a prescription medication, but is instead like getting an organ transplant. Using CRISPR is a highly complex procedure, so its cost will reflect that.^[1] Other gene therapies cost around $500,000 to $1,500,000 per patient, so it is likely that the cost of a CRISPR treatment would be in that range.^[2] Additionally, until a substantial amount of studies have been done on the efficacy of CRISPR treatments, it's unlikely that insurance companies will help with the cost.^[3] If CRISPR use was allowed, but at a steep price tag, this would mean that only wealthy families would be able to afford CRISPR treatments. The result of this would be that wealthy families and individuals would not have genetic diseases, while those in lower socioeconomic standings would continue to have genetic diseases. This would obviously contribute to social inequality and a widening of the wealth gap. Additionally, this would likely result in less resources for treating genetic diseases being available (since there would overall be less people with genetic diseases), with less wealthy individuals and families being disproportionately affected.