Ethics, policy, and educational issues in genetic testing.
OBJECTIVE
Analyze ethics, public policy, and education issues that arise in the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) when genomic information acquired as a result of genetic testing is introduced into healthcare services.


METHODS
Priorities in the Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues Research Program include privacy, integration of genetic services into clinical health care, and educational preparation of the nursing workforce. These constructs are used to examine health policies in the US and UK, and professional interactions of individuals and families with healthcare providers.


RESULTS
Individual, family, and societal goals may conflict with current healthcare practices and policies when genetic testing is done. Current health policies do not fully address these concerns. Unresolved issues include protection of privacy of individuals while considering genetic information needs of family members, determination of appropriate monitoring of genetic tests, addressing genetic healthcare discrepancies, and assuring appropriate nursing workforce preparation.


CONCLUSIONS
Introduction of genetic testing into health care requires that providers are knowledgeable regarding ethical, policy, and practice issues in order to minimize risk for harm, protect the rights of individuals and families, and consider societal context in the management of genetic test results. Understanding of these issues is a component of genetic nursing competency that must be addressed at all levels of nursing education.
Williams
Janet K
JK
The University of Iowa, 338 Nursing Building, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. janet-williams@uiowa.edu
Skirton
Heather
H
Masny
Agnes
A
D003219:Confidentiality / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004517:Education, Professional; D036281:Genetic Research / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D006806:Human Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D011640:Public Policy; D012926:Social Control, Formal; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States