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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Dorothy C. Wertz, PhD, Social Science, Ethics, and Law, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Shriver Division, 200 Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02452, 781-642-0292, Dorothy.Wertz@umassmed.edu
We surveyed genetics professionals in 36 nations, patients in three nations, and the American public about rights to information, to requested services, and to parenthood, posing difficult cases found in practice. In all, 2906 genetics professionals (63%), 499 primary care physicians (59%), 476 North American genetics patients (67%), 394 French patients (51%), 593 German patients (65%) and 988 members of the American public (99%) returned anonymous questionnaires. Results suggest a trend toward increased respect for patient autonomy since an earlier survey in 1985; in most nations more would perform prenatal diagnosis for a couple with 4 daughters who desire a son. A minority (35% in US, 14% elsewhere) would perform PND for a deaf couple who want a deaf child, but most (94% in US, 62% elsewhere) would do prenatal paternity testing in the absence of rape or incest. About half (51%) would support a woman with fragile X who wants children. Respect for autonomy was greatest in the US and was least evident in China and India. In general, responses to these cases illustrate a shift away from population or eugenic concerns to a focus on the individual.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Ethics, Genetics
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.