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Answer: WHY IS GENETIC INFORMATION SPECIAL?
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- Genetic information is often considered
exceptional when compared to other medical
information about an individual for a number of
reasons.
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The shared nature and ownership of genetic
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information
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- Genetic conditions are family health problems. A
diagnosis or a finding of inherited predisposition in
a family member has implications for other family
members. Health professionals have an ethical
responsibility to prevent harm or avoid seriously
jeopardising the health of others (the duty of
care). Similarly, individuals undergoing genetic
testing have a responsibility to consider not only
what it means for their own health, but also what
the information may mean for their relatives, and
their responsibilities towards those relatives.
Geographic distance or discord in families can
sometimes lead to difficulties in revealing genetic
test results that may be important for other family
members. Responsibility and obligation however
needs to be balanced with the right of an
individual to choose to know their personal
genetic information or, equally, not to know.
The emphasis needs to be on the right of the
person to choose. Genetic counselling is essential
both before and after genetic testing so that all
the implications of undertaking testing including
having information which might be of interest to
others can be understood. <em>Hope this helps!</em>
<em>QuezoMartiinez</em>
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