From an AMA publication "Consent, notification part of guidelines on genetic tests" dated 2/5/2001.
Click here to read full article.
Current ethical guidelines for genetic testing of children and embryos advise that they be tested
only for serious diseases that manifest in childhood -- not for Alzheimer's disease or Huntington's chorea,
for example -- and conditions for which there are effective prevention, treatment or care options. Testing for carrier status
and for conditions that do not pose health problems is not generally accepted.
Inform patients of the possible discriminatory consequence of merely having a genetic test.
A positive result can lead to discrimination.
Prospective employers and health insurance providers may interpret a patient's desire to be tested
as evidence that either family history or early signs and symptoms in the patient suggest presence of the disorder being tested
for.
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While most states have legislation to prevent health insurers from rejecting prospective clients or
raising rates on the basis of genetic test results, state legislation does not apply to employer-based plans.
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Click here to read AMA's Genetics and trauma: Coded for injury dated Mach 4, 2002
Trauma is rarely thought to have a genetic link, but scientists are starting to look at how genes make
some people more likely to take risks and impact reactions to physical stress and recovery.
But thinking about it in
any way poses serious challenges -- mostly related to studying the genetic aspects of conditions that might not affect more
than one person in a family. Specifically, numerous relatives may be affected by Huntington's disease at
the same time, but family members rarely experience trauma in the same way or at the same time. Thus, researchers talk about
a genome-wide approach to trauma, different from the approach used to understand single-gene disorders. (See website for full
article) |
