Answer for DNP 810 There are several issues that undermine clients’ rights to make genetic and genomic-related decisions and then take action Re: Topic 8 DQ 2

Answer for DNP 810 There are several issues that undermine clients’ rights to make genetic and genomic-related decisions and then take action

Re: Topic 8 DQ 2

Genetic and genomic applications are diverse and generalizing about the psychosocial harms of testing in these areas is challenging. Some interrelated factors about genetic and genomic testing must be understood. The first regards the characteristics of the genetic variants themselves, including the likelihood of developing a health condition when the variant is present and the range of severity in the health outcome when the variant is present. These bear on what risk information would be conveyed to an individual who has undergone the testing and how serious those results would be. A second factor concerns the nature of the health condition with which the variant is associated. It is one thing to test for cystic fibrosis and another to test for type 2 diabetes; each has its own range of health impacts, prognosis, and prevention or treatment options. The purpose of the testing is the goal to diagnose an already existing set of symptoms, assess risk for future disease, facilitate an intervention to prevent a disease from occurring. The context in which the testing is done is the test being conducted in a clinical setting with an individual who already has a familial risk for a disease, or is it being applied as a large-scale population screen among individuals with unknown prior risk. The impact of genetic and genomic testing has examined its use as a means of predicting and preventing a disease in pre-symptomatic individuals, the testing is often used to assist in narrowing down or confirming a diagnosis for individuals who are already experiencing symptoms. In the midst of symptom management and diagnostic processes, there is less likely to be time to conduct extensive genetic counseling or space for emotional processing by patients. Therefore, it is valuable to consider how the response of symptomatic patients to genetic and genomic testing may differ from other testing contexts American Society of Human Genetics,2020).

Genetic testing can provide only limited information about an inherited condition. The test often cannot determine if a person will show symptoms of a disorder, how severe the symptoms will be, or whether the disorder will progress over time. Another major limitation is the lack of treatment strategies for many genetic disorders once they are diagnosed. Many of the risks associated with genetic testing involve the emotional, social, or financial consequences of the test results. People may feel angry, depressed, anxious, or guilty about their results. In some cases, genetic testing creates tension within a family because the results can reveal information about other family members in addition to the person who is tested. The possibility of genetic discrimination in employment or insurance is also a concern (F. Vansenne, P. M. Bossuyt, and C. A. de Borgie, 2019).

References

American Society of Human Genetics, American College of Medical Genetics. (2020). Points to consider: Ethical, legal, and psychosocial implications of genetic testing in children and adolescents. American Journal of Human Genetics, 57, 1233-1241.

63. Vansenne, P. M. Bossuyt, and C. A. de Borgie, “Evaluating the Psychological Effects of Genetic Testing in Symptomatic Patients: A Systematic Review,” Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers13 (2019): 555– 63.