title: [Neonatal screening and the right to know: ethical considerations].
abstract: Tandem mass spectrometry provides information on numerous metabolites and is widely used for neonatal screening of congenital metabolic disorders. The list of disorders covered by screening programmes in different nations and regions varies, leading to the dilemma of whether parents have an absolute "right to know" information that can be provided by technology but that is not included in the programme implemented by one's country/region. The article discusses some ethical points to consider: the right to know is not absolute, parents are not always the best judges, and it may be in the patient's interest not to provide some of the information.
authors.affiliation: Responsabile dell'Unità di Bioetica, Presidenza, Istituto Superiore di Sanità
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Petrini