Genetic Counseling – Ethical Principles In Problem Solving

The aim of Genetic Counseling is helping interested individuals to make an appropriate decision toward marriage, or a family toward risk of passing inheritable disease to future descents. The whole process is going through several different phases, step by step. Neglecting information or skipping any phase can lead to wrong information and conclusions with severe consequences.

Some of the indications for Genetic Counseling are: mother over 35 and father over 50 years old, close family member with inherited disease, abnormal results of prenatal screening tests etc..

Why Genetic Counseling? Because, one should always know the risks. The accent is on having a healthy family. Can counselor reveal personal information? That is probably the main question concerning Genetic Counseling. Genetic Counseling is a sensitive field. Disclosing personal information demands trusting. Still, it is not a chit chat break with a friend or a neighbor. It is a professional meeting where both sides have certain rules or principles to carry out.

It is not easy to decide a proper suggestion when ethical problem arise. If there are two or more solutions not compatible with each other, genetic counselor should find the most rational one. There are several principles genetic counselor must always have in mind when dealing with conflict decisions or situations.

The first principle is “working for the benefit of all parts”. Before the World War Two the direct counseling ruled, and all the recommendations were for the benefit of the society, not the patient or his family. Today, an individual is a priority, and the accent is on informing and non judgmental counseling.

The second principle is “do not harm”. This principle does not allow unacceptable risk. The Ethical Committees make a final decision about the risk.

The third principle is autonomy of an individual. The patient is the owner of the information. For example, one can not disclose someone’s DNA result.

The fourth principle is justness. Everyone should have the same right to Genetic Counseling and adequate techniques or therapies.

Along with these four bioethical principles there are three rules that Genetic Counseling must carry out.

The first is the rule of truth. The person asking for the advice must receive truthful information about the genetic disease. Always have in mind the patient opts to know the nature of the disease not the probability. This rule is a mutual obligation. The patient must also tell the truth about his ancestors.

The second rule is confidentiality. Genetic counselor can not disclose any information about the patient, not even to his family, without patient’s approval.

The third rule is the rule of mutual agreement. Every genetic counseling demands approbation and agreement.

There are also legal aspects for resolving these conflicts that allow skipping some of the rules or principles of Genetic Consulting. Personalization of the consulting is often necessary.