Abstract
Members of the New York Board of Rabbis were surveyed in the summer of 1991 to assess their activity in counseling congregants on issues related to genetics. Of a sample of 257 members, 181 (70.4%) responded to the questionnaire, and 175 of the responses were analyzed. More than half (56.0%) of the rabbis discussed health issues as a routine part of premarital counseling, and 22.3% had counseled a couple after prenatal diagnosis of an abnormal fetus. Orthodox rabbis were more likely than rabbis from other branches of Judaism to have contacted medical personnel in these cases, and they reported more involvement in helping families after the birth of a child with a hereditary condition or birth defect. However, a majority (90.9%) of rabbis from all branches would refer such a family for genetic counseling. Ninety-four rabbis (53.7%) discussed Tay-Sachs carrier testing with congregants. These rabbis tended to be Reform, to be younger, and to have fewer years in the rabbinate. Reform rabbis also scored significantly higher than did Orthodox or Conservative rabbis on knowledge questions about Jewish genetic diseases and were more active in distributing pertinent literature to congregants. Even though nearly 90% of the sample viewed counseling on genetic issues as part of their rabbinical role, most rabbis, even those who actually counseled on these issues, felt poorly prepared to do so. Recommendations are made for increased programming in rabbinical schools and for outreach from the genetics community.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Baumiller R. C. Genetic decision making and pastoral care. Clergy involvement. Hosp Pract (Off Ed) 1983 Apr;18(4):38A, 38D-38F. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Beaudet A. L. Genetic testing for cystic fibrosis. Pediatr Clin North Am. 1992 Apr;39(2):213–228. doi: 10.1016/s0031-3955(16)38292-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Beck E., Blaichman S., Scriver C. R., Clow C. L. Advocacy and compliance in genetic screening. Behavior of physicians and clients in a voluntary program of testing for the Tay-Sachs gene. N Engl J Med. 1974 Nov 28;291(22):1166–1170. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197411282912206. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brown J. Prenatal screening in Jewish law. J Med Ethics. 1990 Jun;16(2):75–80. doi: 10.1136/jme.16.2.75. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jenkins T. Medical genetics in South Africa. J Med Genet. 1990 Dec;27(12):760–779. doi: 10.1136/jmg.27.12.760. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kaseman C. M., Anderson R. G. Clergy consultation as a community mental health program. Community Ment Health J. 1977 Spring;13(1):84–91. doi: 10.1007/BF01419921. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kenen R. H., Schmidt R. M. Stigmatization of carrier status: social implications of heterozygote genetic screening programs. Am J Public Health. 1978 Nov;68(11):1116–1120. doi: 10.2105/ajph.68.11.1116. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kukin Marrick. Tay-Sachs and the abortion controversy. J Relig Health. 1981 Fall;20(3):224–242. doi: 10.1007/BF01561184. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lowden J. A. Role of the physician in screening for carriers of Tay-Sachs disease. Can Med Assoc J. 1978 Sep 23;119(6):575–578. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mertens Thomas R., Hendrix Jon R., Mendenhall Gordon L. Indiana clergy: a survey of their human genetics/bioethics educational needs. J Pastoral Care. 1986 Mar;40(1):43–53. doi: 10.1177/002234098604000106. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Shapiro D. A., Shapiro L. R. Pitfalls in Tay-Sachs carrier detection: physician referral patterns and patient ignorance. N Y State J Med. 1989 Jun;89(6):317–319. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]