Genetic disorders should not dictate reproductive choices, says Filipino advocate

Families with inherited genetic disorders deserve the freedom to have children without guilt, pressure or discrimination, Filipino patient advocate Andrea Trinidad told an international congress in India.

Speaking at the GANSID International Congress 2026 in Hyderabad on October 23, Trinidad, president and co-founder of Hemophilia Advocates-Philippines (HAP), challenged the notion that genetic counseling should discourage people with inherited conditions from having children.

“Our lives are not mistakes. Our children are not mistakes,” declared Trinidad, a former Philippine Daily Inquirer reporter.

She stressed that genetic counseling should help families understand inherited risks and reproductive options, not dictate their decisions.

Some may choose assisted reproduction, others may decide against biological parenthood, while some may have children despite known genetic risks. All choices, she said, deserve respect.

A personal battle

Trinidad was diagnosed with von Willebrand disease in 2006 and hemophilia A in 2018. Several relatives also have inherited bleeding disorders, while her mother died from surgical bleeding complications.

Established in 2016, HAP has facilitated approximately ₱3 billion in donated medicines, according to its records. It now operates 24 chapters nationwide, serving more than 1,000 patients, relatives and advocates.

Trinidad urged greater access to genetic testing, counseling and education, emphasizing that patient advocates should connect families with qualified medical professionals.

The goal, she said, is not to prevent people with genetic disorders from being born, but to ensure families make informed decisions.

“Because no family should have to say: if only we had known.”

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