Ethics and Genetics

Genetic testing plays an increasingly important role in our lives. As a result of the Human Genome Project, knowledge of the genetic basis of various diseases is growing, with important questions for the role of genetics in clinical practice, health care systems, and for society at large. Should we test every individual who wants to know his or her genetic status? Should we inform family members about the results of genetic tests of individuals, even when there are no possibilities for treatment? Is it necessary to inform family members when there is only an increased risk of a disease? This book deals with the ethical issues of clinical genetics, as well as ethical issues that arise in genetic screening, the research of populations, and the use of genetic information for access to insurance and the workplace. It will be of interest to all those concerned with these questions, as well as forming a crucial part of the training curriculum for medical and nursing professionals. These three books introduce key areas in current medical ethics to readers with no previous knowledge in the field. Structured around a variety of guided activities and real-life cases, the authors and cases represent a wide range of European backgrounds and professional disciplines, including medicine, bioethics, law, sociology, theology and philosophy. The general editor is Donna Dickenson, John Ferguson Professor at the University of Birmingham and Director of the Centre for the Study of Global Ethics. She is also the author of Death, Dying and Bereavement (Sage, 2000).