Health
Direct-to-consumer genetic testing restrictions necessary
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 12, 2004
Patients should not be able to access genetic testing without the consultation of a qualified health care professional, according to policy adopted at the American Medical Association Annual Meeting in Chicago last month.
The call for such restrictions is a response to the growing number of such tests being made available directly to consumers. The AMA favors state restrictions of the tests' availability because of the belief that misinterpreted tests could lead patients to take actions that they might regret.
A positive test result for genes related to breast cancer could lead a patient to seek a prophylactic removal of breasts and ovaries, which might not actually be necessary. A negative test could lead patients to believe that they are not at risk when in fact they are.
"In the past 10 years, genetics has expanded significantly, and as a result there has been a proliferation of many new laboratory tests," said Raymond Lewandowski, MD, delegate from the American College of Medical Genetics. "However, selection of the tests and interpretation of the results is often a complicated process."
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/07/12/hlbf0712.htm.
