Abstract
The new genetic technologies are becoming increasingly applicable to clinical medicine. At present, however, diagnostic capabilities far exceed treatment options. Pregnancy termination, with its attendant moral-ethical problems, remains the major therapeutic option for mothers bearing fetuses with genetic abnormalities. In this article, the author outlines the major ethical issues facing family physicians, in the context of our expanding genetic diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities, and their possible effects on the traditional physician-patient relationship.
Keywords: genetic technology, prenatal diagnosis, presymptomatic diagnosis, physician-patient relationship
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Boucher K., Neidhardt A., Youson B. Support services in genetics. Can Fam Physician. 1988 Apr;34:935–939. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hardy H. Who comes first: your patient or society? Can Doct. 1985 Nov-Dec;51(10):20–24. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Picard-Carrière L., Thompson D. Problems in genetics: getting help. Can Fam Physician. 1988 Apr;34:929–932. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rowley P. T. Genetic screening: marvel or menace? Science. 1984 Jul 13;225(4658):138–144. doi: 10.1126/science.6729472. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]