Ethics Governance
Ethics & Governance - Resources and Articles |
| Articles indexes: a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | w | x | y | z | other | |
|
|
| Article - Abstract. To view full article click on the article title. | |
eMJA: Savulescu, Predictive genetic testing in children Clinical Ethics. Predictive genetic testing in children Julian Savulescu MJA 2001; 175: 379-381 Predictive genetic testing should only be performed on children if it is in their best interests. "Interests" include psychosocial elements. Predictive testing is performed on children when there are interventions to prevent disease or to detect and treat it early and it is necessary to begin these interventions in childhood. It is also performed for diseases known to commence in childhood. Predictive testing in children for adult-onset conditions for which there is no medical intervention is highly controversial. Competent children and adolescents can consent to predictive genetic testing. Predictive testing can result in harm, such as discrimination (eg, in insurance entitlement or employment) and stigmatisation. Predictive testing can have important non-medical benefits in terms of self-knowledge and life planning. A hypothetical clinical encounter (bold comments in brackets refer to bolded points in Boxes 1 and 2): Mrs Smith presents to Dr Jones for a script for an oral contraceptive. She is 38 years old and has recently been diagnosed as carrying the gene for Huntington's disease. She will develop progressive and irreversible dementia and movement disorder between the ages of 40 and 60. Mrs Smith has an 11-year-old daughter, Jane, and a 16-year-old son, John, who both have a 50% chance of carrying the gene. Mrs Smith: I wanted to talk to you about getting Jane and John tested for Huntington's. [Parental autonomy] Dr Jones: Why do you want them tested? Mrs Smith: We all saw my father start getting dementia at 50. He's 56 and in a nursing home now. They're smart kids. They know they've got a 50/50 chance of getting it themselves. John has been on the net and knows there's a test. Full Article: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/175_07_011001/savulescu/savulescu.html |
|
2006 Ethics-Governance.com |
|||