[Genetic counseling versus genetic self testing: what challenges?].
The development of molecular genetics allows us to have access to an increasing number of informations on our own genetic code. This leads to a new form of medical activity, called predictive and preclinical medicine. It involves significant ethical stakes in terms of individual information and consent for the test as well as in terms of support for the patient which is summarized by the concept of "genetic council". The self-test, which bypasses this medical supervision, represents, for the patient becoming a consumer, a threat from the emotional point of view as well as from a social perspective (insurance, access to the working market). This analysis shows that the only real driving force for the development of the genetic self-test is commercial. To resist what is sometimes called "genetic shopping" one must consider an ethical, deontological and social priority.
Englert
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Clinique de Fertilité, Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, Hôpital Erasme, U.L.B.
D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D012945:Social Values