Ethical Considerations in Genetic Testing
by Timur Maryia
The genetic testing presents key ethical questions particularly concerning privacy and confidentiality, Use of genetic testing for non — discriminatory purpose. In its broad array of codes of ethics and statements, the AMA provides detailed recommendations about the ethics of genetic testing.
The freedom stresses that any genetic test that is done, has to be done willfully and the subject has to give his or her consent. With the use of genetic information, there is some concern on the doctor-patient relationship this is because physician is under ethical obligation to maintain the patient’s genetic information and divulge it only to a third party after seeking permission from the patient.
Another major ethical issue that is closely linked with genetic testing of children is the fact that children themselves can be subjected to these tests. It should only be done where there is reason to hope for gain that outweighs the risks as could be seen through prevention or a cure. In the instances of conditions that develop in adulthood without prevention or cure, genetic screening of children should not be conducted for two reasons: first, it undermines the child’s rights to choose whether or not to live with that particular condition in future.
The code also bans the use of genetic testing for other family members’ sake unless such testing is essential to avoid significant detriment. They recommended that physicians inform the parents to provide their offspring with any necessary genetic information one should know at the age of five.
Apart from its focus on clinical outcomes, the code also concerns itself with social effects of genetic testing. This means that insurers or employers should not be allowed to use carrier testing to restrict choice by denying service to those who carry the particular gene that causes a genetic disorder.
The code underscores the need to ensure that physicians are adequately endowed with genetic knowledge to enable him or her to make a correct interpretation of the genetic tests given to the patient and further advise appropriately as maybe necessary. 1It also means that an effective focus of social policy must be created to set the proper course for the future of genetic screening tests.
There are other concerns of privacy and ethics that are heightened due to the emergence of the direct-to-consumer genetic tests. Customers must read the policies of those testing organizations in details in order to determine how the genetic information provided by them will and will not be used as well as how it will be protected. The phenomenon of genetic discrimination still persists in insurance and employment scenarios with equal vigor — an essential factor that entails the necessity of credible legal safeguards.
Taken together, the ethical guidelines outlined in the AMA Code of Medical Ethics illustrate the ethics of genetic testing as not a simple but rather very vistaed conflict. A close examination of these factors should however be made as these innovations cannot be lightly deployed without regard to their impacts on patients and the overall population.
References:
AMA Code of Medical Ethics’ Opinions on Genetic Testing. (2009, September 1). AMA Journal of Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1001/virtualmentor.2009.11.9.code1-0909
Genetic Testing of Children | AMA-Code. (n.d.). https://code-medical-ethics.ama-assn.org/ethics-opinions/genetic-testing-children
Whelan, L. (2022, November 7). The privacy problem with at-home DNA genetic testing. Proton. https://proton.me/blog/privacy-problem-dna-testing
How do direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies protect their customers’ privacy?: MedlinePlus Genetics. (n.d.). https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/dtcprivacy/
