title: Genetic testing in asymptomatic minors: background considerations towards ESHG Recommendations.
abstract: Although various guidelines and position papers have discussed, in the past, the ethical aspects of genetic testing in asymptomatic minors, the European Society of Human Genetics had not earlier endorsed any set of guidelines exclusively focused on this issue. This paper has served as a background document in preparation of the development of the policy recommendations of the Public and Professional Committee of the European Society of Human Genetics. This background paper first discusses some general considerations with regard to the provision of genetic tests to minors. It discusses the concept of best interests, participation of minors in health-care decisions, parents' responsibilities to share genetic information, the role of clinical genetics and the health-care system in communication within the family. Second, it discusses, respectively, the presymptomatic and predictive genetic testing for adult-onset disorders, childhood-onset disorders and carrier testing.
authors.affiliation: Research Fund Flanders, Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Pascal.Borry@med.kuleuven.be
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borry
authors.forename: Gerry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Evers-Kiebooms
authors.forename: Martina C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cornel
authors.forename: Angus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dierickx
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000941:ethics* / Q000592:standards; D005826:Genetics, Medical; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D033242:Minors; D012955:Societies, Medical; D006113:United Kingdom