Genetic Testing Argumentative Analysis
In 2015, Dr. Mauro Bertolotti wrote an article on genetic testing entitled “Opportunities, Risks, and Limitations of Genetic Testing: Looking to the Future From Patients' Point of View”. This issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings presents the current and future problems and challenges of constantly innovating genetic testing. According to Dr. Bertolotti, “The novelty of genetic testing procedures and results interpretation, formal studies of patients' experiences with genetic testing, and their corresponding reactions to test results, are still limited.” He continues to highlight a few of the problem-areas or shortcomings that may accompany genetic testing. Emotional effects, ethical and regulatory concerns, and overall lack of knowledge are the main points of his argument. Bertolotti asserts that we need to take these perspectives into consideration when researching, designing, discussing, and administering these new types of genetic tests, One of the challenges that Bertolotti explores is the emotional consequences of genetic testing. He believes that emotions play a larger part in medical decision-making processes than some may currently realize. Since early studies on the emotional consequences of genetic testing research has
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focused on the psychological dimensions of well-being, anxiety, and depression as the outcomes of the decision to undergo genetic testing and of later access to results. In his own words, “Most current psychological models of health-related behavior, however, consider emotions not only as the outcomes of decisions but also as sometimes very powerful motivating factors in the decision-making process. Emotions can therefore influence individuals' intention to undergo testing and their willingness to adopt the necessary therapy regimens or lifestyle changes once the results are known. Therefore, we should not always assume that increased knowledge of one's susceptibility to future conditions is a sufficient motivation to undergo genetic testing.” (Bertolotti) Bertolotti stresses the importance of face-to-face counseling in the genetic testing process.
He expresses that appropriate counseling is beneficial in all the phases of genetic testing, from initial interest, to discussion of expectations regarding the results, and to their final decision. Direct-to-consumer genetic testing lacks the face-to-face counseling that is offered by hospitals and medical institution. In turn, this route of genetic testing can lead to patient making uninformed and irrational decision due to the lack of professional interpretation. Bertolotti acknowledges that there have been efforts to regulate the developing genetic testing market, but continues that we should not forget the importance of the users' point of
view. In no ways does Bertolotti ignore the various benefits of genetic testing in today’s society. However, he believes that it is ethically irresponsible to not even acknowledge the limitations or even costs of it. The main argument he uses is that patients are prone to making emotional decisions based off of information that they may not even understand fully. Counseling, Bertolotti suggests, is imperative for patients that undergo genetic testing to ensure that they understand the result of the testing, as well as respond to those result appropriately. All in all, Bertolotti raises some issues about genetic testing that may go overlooked by the average citizen.
focused on the psychological dimensions of well-being, anxiety, and depression as the outcomes of the decision to undergo genetic testing and of later access to results. In his own words, “Most current psychological models of health-related behavior, however, consider emotions not only as the outcomes of decisions but also as sometimes very powerful motivating factors in the decision-making process. Emotions can therefore influence individuals' intention to undergo testing and their willingness to adopt the necessary therapy regimens or lifestyle changes once the results are known. Therefore, we should not always assume that increased knowledge of one's susceptibility to future conditions is a sufficient motivation to undergo genetic testing.” (Bertolotti) Bertolotti stresses the importance of face-to-face counseling in the genetic testing process.
He expresses that appropriate counseling is beneficial in all the phases of genetic testing, from initial interest, to discussion of expectations regarding the results, and to their final decision. Direct-to-consumer genetic testing lacks the face-to-face counseling that is offered by hospitals and medical institution. In turn, this route of genetic testing can lead to patient making uninformed and irrational decision due to the lack of professional interpretation. Bertolotti acknowledges that there have been efforts to regulate the developing genetic testing market, but continues that we should not forget the importance of the users' point of
view. In no ways does Bertolotti ignore the various benefits of genetic testing in today’s society. However, he believes that it is ethically irresponsible to not even acknowledge the limitations or even costs of it. The main argument he uses is that patients are prone to making emotional decisions based off of information that they may not even understand fully. Counseling, Bertolotti suggests, is imperative for patients that undergo genetic testing to ensure that they understand the result of the testing, as well as respond to those result appropriately. All in all, Bertolotti raises some issues about genetic testing that may go overlooked by the average citizen.