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Bioethical Issues In Genetic Screening And Patient Information
Hans-Martin SASS*
*Senior Research Scholar at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University, Washington DC 20057, USAProfessor of Philosophy and Founding Director of the Center for Medical Ethics, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany
Recent progress in molecular genetics has dramatically improved clinical knowledge in pharmacogenetics, predictive and preventive medicine; this knowledge can be put to work in individualized drug prescription and in medical health risk prediction and prevention. A survey of the international bioethical and clinical literature will analyze a probable conflict between issues of privacy and informational property rights on one side and of medical benefits in prescribing efficacious drugs and in advising on preventive measures for individual genetic profiles on the other side. Special attention will be given (a) to cultural and bioethical traditions in accepting genetic screening, (b) to pharmacological and clinical genetic research and (c) to regulating culturally sensitive genetic research.Keywords: Genetic screening, Informed consent, Cultural relativism
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