<p>Mumsiekins,</p>
<p>If the doctors are saying that you may have a disease that causes spontaneous arterial rupture with a median age-of-death of 48 yrs, and that this disease is autosomal dominant (meaning that you have a 50% chance of passing the genetic defect on to your offspring) and that if you have the defect, you have the disease (no carriers with this disease like some others)... And further, if pregnant women with the disease have a 25-50% mortality rate (some conflicting info out there, but they all give within that range)...</p>
<p>Don't you think it's a wee bit selfish to not get tested for the disease, particularly in light of the fact that my husband and I plan to have kids within the next few years, and that the cost for the test is $1400? Not to mention the fact that you're pretty sure that Brother has exhibited some characteristics of the disease... With your probable diagnosis, your insurance will almost certainly cover the test, but without a positive diagnosis on your end, Brother and I would have to pay out of pocket.</p>
<p>"Oh, aibarr, you shouldn't worry!" is not an acceptable response, by the by.</p>