4/28/2017 4 Comments Home Genetic Testing #14Perhaps you have seen the ads on TV or heard about it, but the home genetic testing company "23 And Me" has become incredibly visible lately, and with the latest developments of the company you can bet you will be hearing even more in the days to come. The company started out as a DNA genetic testing company that markets itself as a simple and informative source for people to find out about their genetic background, all in the comfort of their own home. Consumers simply go online or call and a kit is mailed directly to them. With a simple swab of saliva the kit is returned to the testing lab and within weeks your results are available. This has proven to be a very popular and effective idea, and the cost is considered to be very reasonable. Now the company has announced an expansion of their services and with the recent approval of the FDA, a new layer of testing is available, for Alzheimers and Parkinson's disease. While many see this as a tremendous opportunity, not everyone is so quick to agree. Opponents will tell you that giving people this option presents some very challenging ethical questions, namely that consumers who receive this information may be subject to confusion, fear, and misunderstandings. Traditionally testing for these diseases is conducted by a physician, and the results are explained and defined by the physician in their office. Patients are appropriately counseled and given information to assist them with decision making and are not left to make their own assessments that will be the case with the in home kits from 23 And Me.
It is also acknowledged that false test results are possible, and with that, the concern for patient care is increased. What if you do get a false result, who will be the responsible party? I would think that the company will disclose this so as to avoid any liability, but not everyone will read the fine print. Does 23 And Me have an ethical responsibility to its customers in such cases, and if it does how far will it extend? There is one significant difference with these tests in that they are not life threatening. Diagnosis of these two diseases would likely result in multiple follow-up tests, additional related tests, and so on. Because both of these diseases are long-term problems it does somewhat diminish the fear of overreacting consumers. I do believe however that self-tests such as these should be accompanied by extensive disclosures, instructions, and after care information with every kit delivered. By doing so we are setting an ethical standard that places the general well-being of people ahead of potential profits from a company such as 23 And Me. I believe we are just beginning to see the development of more and more in home types of medical testing and by addressing the procedures for how these kinds of kits are packaged and given to consumers we are creating a safer environment for them. In many ways, it is no different than how we are given prescription drugs, always with full disclosure and information when we receive our medication. Establishing good ethical standards now ensures this growing industry maintains the right approach to good patient care and education for consumers.
4 Comments
Adrienne Horca
5/8/2017 11:33:51 am
Luigi,
Reply
Sean O'Fallon
5/9/2017 10:16:45 am
I think a solution to this problem could be to send the results of these type of tests to a doctor of the customers choosing. Then the doctor would be able to explain more gently and in greater detail the ailment that the patient will be dealing with, or in the case of false positives, there can be an additional test done to be sure this is not the case.
Reply
5/10/2017 08:05:17 pm
Hello Luigi,
Reply
Cammron Keehley
5/23/2017 07:55:20 pm
Hey Luigi,
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
May 2017
Categories
|