Due to new developments in prenatal testing and therapy the fetus is increasingly visible, examinable and treatable in prenatal care. Accordingly, physicians tend to perceive the fetus as a patient and understand themselves as having certain professional duties towards it. However, it is far from clear what it means to speak of a patient in this connection. This volume explores the usefulness and limitations of the concept of 'fetal patient' against the background of the recent seminal developments in prenatal or fetal medicine. It does so from an interdisciplinary and international perspective. Featuring internationally recognized experts in the field, the book discusses the normative implications of the concept of 'fetal patient' from a philosophical-theoretical as well as from a legal perspective. This includes its implications for the autonomy of the pregnant woman as well as its consequences for physician-patient-interactions in prenatal medicine.

Due to new developments in prenatal testing and therapy the fetus is increasingly visible, examinable and treatable in prenatal care. Accordingly, physicians tend to perceive the fetus as a patient and understand themselves as having certain professional duties towards it. However, it is far from clear what it means to speak of a patient in this connection. This volume explores the usefulness and limitations of the concept of 'fetal patient' against the background of the recent seminal developments in prenatal or fetal medicine. It does so from an interdisciplinary and international perspective. Featuring internationally recognized experts in the field, the book discusses the normative implications of the concept of 'fetal patient' from a philosophical-theoretical as well as from a legal perspective. This includes its implications for the autonomy of the pregnant woman as well as its consequences for physician-patient-interactions in prenatal medicine.

Advances in molecular genetics have led to the increasing availability of genetic testing for a variety of inherited disorders. While this new knowledge presents many obvious health benefits to prospective individuals and their families it also raises complex ethical and moral dilemmas for families as well as genetic professionals. This book explores the ways in which genetic testing generates not only probabilities of potential futures, but also enjoys new forms of social, individual and professional responsibility. Concerns about confidentiality and informed consent involving children, the assessment of competence and maturity, the ability to engage in shared decision-making through acts of disclosure and choice, are just some of the issues that are examined in detail.

"Advances in molecular genetics have led to the increasing availability of genetic testing for a variety of inherited disorders. While this new knowledge presents many obvious health benefits to prospective individuals and their families it also raises complex ethical and moral dilemmas for families as well as genetic professionals. This book explores the ways in which genetic testing generates not only probabilities of potential futures, but also enjoys new forms of social, individual and professional responsibility. Concerns about confidentiality and informed consent involving children, the assessment of competence and maturity, the ability to engage in shared decision-making through acts of disclosure and choice, are just some of the issues that are examined in detail"--Provided by publisher.

This book, written by a leading geneticist, examines the ethical and social issues raised by the genetic testing of children. The opinions of geneticists, ethicists and affected families are all included to give a balanced view of this controversial field. Issues covered include confidentiality, potential abuses of genetic information (eg the use of test results by insurance companies) and the value of predictive genetic testing.
The aim of the book is to improve awareness of the complexity of the issues raised and provide suggestions as to how the discussions must develop - it therefore raises new questions as well as answering those that already exist.

To understand the ethical issues raised by genetic counselling, it is necessary for the practitioner, the detached observer and the student to be aware of different perspectives. This work includes contributions from health professionals engaged in genetic counselling, and also from observers and critics of genetic counselling who have backgrounds in law, philosophy, biology, social science, and in advocacy on behalf of those with mental handicap. This diversity is designed to assist health professionals in examining their activities with a fresh eye; it may also help the observer-critic to understand the ethical problems that arise in genetic counselling practice. It is natural for health professionals to focus their concern on the immediate questions raised by individual clients, and for detached observers to consider the broader social implications of the subject.

To understand the ethical issues raised by genetic counselling, it is necessary for the practitioner, the detached observer and the student to be aware of different perspectives. This work includes contributions from health professionals engaged in genetic counselling, and also from observers and critics of genetic counselling who have backgrounds in law, philosophy, biology, social science, and in advocacy on behalf of those with mental handicap. This diversity is designed to assist health professionals in examining their activities with a fresh eye; it may also help the observer-critic to understand the ethical problems that arise in genetic counselling practice. It is natural for health professionals to focus their concern on the immediate questions raised by individual clients, and for detached observers to consider the broader social implications of the subject.

Highly valued across the world by genetic counsellors, medical geneticists and other healthcare professionals, Harper's Practical Genetic Counselling has established itself over previous editions as the essential guide to counselling those at risk from inherited disorders. Fully revised by its new author Angus Clarke, and with additional input from colleagues, this eighth edition provides indispensable and up-to-date guidance, helping readers to navigate the profusion of new information in this area and the associated psychosocial and ethical considerations and concerns. Maintaining the trusted framework of earlier editions, the update presents the latest information on the use and interpretation of genetic test results, including new genomebased investigations and their application in the genetic counselling process. This book will help both the student and the practitioner, as genetic and genomic investigations become progressively more relevant to all healthcare professionals with the mainstreaming of genetics across the full range of medical practice. The eighth edition of this best-selling text will continue to be an essential source of reference for trainee and practitioner genetic counsellors and medical geneticists, for clinicians and nurses working in mainstream specialties who increasingly are dealing with the genetic aspects of disease, and for practitioners working in settings where referral to a genetics specialist is not readily available. It also provides invaluable background for other healthcare professionals, counsellors, social scientists, ethicists and genetics laboratory staff.

Increasingly more conditions are now being identified as having a genetic component, and controversial new genetic technologies potentially have major consequences for social relations and self-identity. How do family members respond to the information that they have a genetically transmitted disease or condition? How do they communicate (or not communicate) about their shared heritage? How do they decide who to tell and who not to tell within their family? Richly illustrated with the real experiences of individuals and families, Risky Relations is essential reading for anthropologists and sociologists of health and medicine, specialists in family and kinship, and health professionals concerned with the treatment and counselling of clients with genetic conditions. The lived impact of genetic technology on understanding within families with genetic conditions has never been systematically explored. This book fills a major gap by placing ethical, medical and social debates surrounding this charged issue firmly in context.

Increasingly more conditions are now being identified as having a genetic component, and controversial new genetic technologies potentially have major consequences for social relations and self-identity. How do family members respond to the information that they have a genetically transmitted disease or condition? How do they communicate (or not communicate) about their shared heritage? How do they decide who to tell and who not to tell within their family? Richly illustrated with the real experiences of individuals and families, Risky Relations is essential reading for anthropologists and sociologists of health and medicine, specialists in family and kinship, and health professionals concerned with the treatment and counselling of clients with genetic conditions. The lived impact of genetic technology on understanding within families with genetic conditions has never been systematically explored. This book fills a major gap by placing ethical, medical and social debates surrounding this charged issue firmly in context.

Easy to use, and useful when kept close at hand in the room where you work. The book is a pleasure to read: the style elegant and authoritative.' Lancet'...this book is a wonderful reference to enable primary physicians to be informed about their patients.' Annals of Internal MedicineUniversally used across the world by genetic counsellors, medical geneticists and clinicians alike, Harper's Practical Genetic Counselling has established itself as the essential guide to counselling those at risk from inherited disorders.Increasingly, common disorders are known to have a genetic component and this book provides invaluable and up to date guidance through the profusion of new information in this area and the associated psychosocial and ethical considerations and concerns.Within its established, tried and trusted framework, the book contains new chapters on: laboratory methods, new genetic sequencing techniques and the applications of genome-wide SNP association studies, genetic susceptibility, cross cultural aspects and the genetic counselling process. It has expand chapters on genetic screening and screening of newborn, treatment techniques and rational approaches to treatment, non-Mendelian inheritance, free fetal DNA in prenatal screening and diagnosis.Key features: - Fully updated to provide the very latest information when in a busy consulting room or clinic- Clear and authoritative advice applicable to everyday clinical practice- Reflects the rapid development of knowledge in this area, including the implications of the human genome project and related technologyThe eighth edition of this popular, best selling text continues to be an essential source of reference for trainee and practitioner genetic counsellors, medical geneticists and clinicians. Also it provides valuable background for specialist nurses, counsellors, social scientists, ethicists as well as genetics laboratory staff.