Parents Don't Sweat the Gene Stuff
According to US News and World Report, a recent study done by researchers from the University of Michigan reports that parents do not overreact to genetic test results for their children, and in fact, treat the data similar to family history.
What do these findings suggest? Predictive genetic testing for children may not result in the kind of psychological or medical harm that many bioethicists have feared if parents just treat it as one more piece of data like Aunt Laverne's breast cancer. In fact, many parents, the study said, feared family history more than genetic test results in regard to what the future holds for their children.
Some data that contradicts the conventional wisdom for sure--but certainly food for thought as well. Certainly not a good reason to recommend genetic tests for children lightly, but also maybe a reason to fear them less than we once did for those under 18.
Summer Johnson, PhD
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I appreciate the taking into consideration the potential psychological harm that may result from genetic test results. But I've always thought it paternalistic to use this as a reason not to recommend testing. I believe the patient is in a much better position to gauge the potential psychological harm vs. benefits of having the knowledge that a genetic test would provide. Doctors, in some cases, are in a better position to gauge the risks vs. benefits of a particular intervention. But a test result? If the result of your patient's genetic test is the greatest source of psychological stress in his or her life, he or she is in pretty good shape.
- by James on Nov 7, 2008 at 3:27 AM | link