title: Ethical dilemmas associated with genetic testing: which are most commonly seen and how are they managed?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to document the range and frequency of ethical dilemmas associated with genetic testing encountered by genetic health professionals and to determine the strategies used to manage them.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey was used to document how often the 11 key ethical dilemmas have been encountered; whether any additional dilemmas have been encountered; and how these dilemmas have been managed. Members of the Australasian Association of Clinical Geneticists, Australasian Society of Genetic Counsellors, and genetic social workers practicing in Australia and New Zealand were invited to participate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 102 responses were received (31% response rate). Respondents had encountered all of the 11 ethical dilemmas included in the survey, and 18 respondents had encountered 14 additional dilemmas. Respondents encountered an average of 2.2 dilemmas per year of practice. Peer and clinical supervision were the most common strategies used to manage dilemmas, and seeking advice from clinical ethics committees was rare. Occasionally, respondents facilitated practices they deemed unethical as a consequence of client deception.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ethical dilemmas of genetic testing are encountered regularly in clinical genetics practice. Evidence provided by our study can assist in targeting training, support, and guidance to help genetic health professionals navigate such dilemmas in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.forename: Martin B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Delatycki
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Macciocca
authors.forename: Rony E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Duncan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000941:ethics*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult