[Ethical aspect of predictive gene diagnosis].
Progress of gene diagnosis has made it possible to predict whether a man develops any particular disease. The typical case is Huntington's disease. However, predictive gene diagnosis profits anything? Not a few persons at risk of the disease do not want to receive predictive diagnosis. Some investigators assert that if informed consent is available, there is no problem to do the test. However, to force the client to decide whether to receive or not the diagnosis is a great cruelty for them. Investigators must recognize their pitiable states. Predictive gene diagnosis offers an important problem whether precognition in general is really worthwhile. Cicero told us "It is no use to foresee the future, if there is no profit", and today this sentence is still alive. Today's medicine has inclined to neglect patients themselves. Men, who have paid the highest respect for reason and almighty sciences, must remember the following philosophical prose of Alexander Pope: "Know then thyself, presume not God to scan; The proper study of Mankind is Man."
Furukawa
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Department of Allied Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University.
D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests