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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Toby Citrin, JD, School of Public Health Office of Community-Based Public Health, University of Michigan, 109 S. Observatory, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, 734-936-0936, tcitrin@umich.edu
The use of family history as a public health tool for disease prevention presents ethical, legal, and social issues similar to those arising from the integration of genetic screening and testing into public health. Issues include discrimination, stigmatization, privacy/confidentiality, informed consent, and access to services. Despite these concerns, family history is less threatening and more familiar to the public than genetic information obtained through genetic testing or screening. Using family history as a tool for disease prevention provides public health with an opportunity to begin addressing these complex ethical, legal, and social issues. Addressing these concerns within the context of family history will lay the groundwork for the introduction of more complex genetic technologies into public health practice in the future. An effective approach to addressing these issues should include engaging the community in public health program and policy development in order to avoid and reduce potential harms. The special concerns of communities of color, due to past experiences such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, must also be considered. Community-based organizations play an important role as intermediaries between communities and public health agencies, ensuring community representation and encouraging participation in programs.
Learning Objectives:
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.