Genetic dilemmas Flashcards
What is an ethical dilemma
a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two courses of action, either of which entails transgressing a moral principle
Huntington’s quick facts
Neuro-degernative
Autosomal dominant
Onset - adulthood
no treatment available
Gene testing of HD?
Implications of result being positive/ negative - predictive protocol
Insurances
Potential impact of testing on self, family and work
Prenatal diagnosis - what can you do ?
Chorionic villus sampling > 11 weeks
Amniocentesis > 15weeks - risk of miscarriage
consider wishes of couple on testing/ termination thoughts
Issues for the genetic counsellor?
Professional responsibilities to couple
Self awareness
Autonomy- trusting the patients to know what is right for them
Supporting couple in decision
Gene testing for breast cancer mutations
BRCA1 AND BRCA2 - now a lot more
Funded tests for those high risk
mammography
risk reducing surgery
Issues with family genetic testing ?
Secrecy within families, want to protect from difficult news
parents disagree as to what to share with their children
Impact on self? (4)
Will support many patients with ethical decisions over your career.
Maintain objective approach
Be self aware
Seek support/discuss cases with others
Genetic diagnosis impacts who?
patients, their families and the Genetic Counselling Staff involved
Future considerations?
Non invasive prenatal testing - tris 13,18 and 21 (NIPT)
Genomic era
Direct to consumer testing
