Describe two issues that undermine the rights of clients in genetic- and genomic-related decision making and action.

As genetic and genomic testing becomes increasingly popular in healthcare, there are several issues that can undermine the rights of clients in decision making and action. Two such issues are lack of informed consent and potential discrimination.

Firstly, lack of informed consent can be an issue in genetic and genomic-related decision making. Patients may not fully understand the implications of genetic testing, such as the possibility of finding unexpected results or the potential for discrimination from insurance companies or employers based on genetic information. A potential solution to this issue is to ensure that healthcare providers take the time to thoroughly explain the risks and benefits of genetic testing to patients and obtain informed consent before proceeding with testing. As a patient advocate, my role would be to help patients understand the information being presented to them and advocate for their right to make an informed decision about genetic testing.

Secondly, potential discrimination is another issue that can undermine the rights of clients in genetic and genomic-related decision making. Discrimination based on genetic information can occur in areas such as employment and insurance coverage. A potential solution to this issue is to advocate for policies that protect individuals from genetic discrimination. For example, in the United States, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) prohibits discrimination in employment and health insurance based on genetic information. As a patient advocate, my role would be to ensure that patients are aware of their rights and to advocate for policies that protect them from genetic discrimination.

In conclusion, lack of informed consent and potential discrimination are two issues that can undermine the rights of clients in genetic- and genomic-related decision making and action. Healthcare providers and patient advocates have an important role to play in addressing these issues and ensuring that patients are able to make informed decisions about genetic testing and are protected from discrimination based on their genetic information.

References:

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA). (n.d.). U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Retrieved from https://www.eeoc.gov/statutes/genetic-information-nondiscrimination-act-2008-gina

Haga, S. B., O’Daniel, J. M., & Tindall, G. M. (2011). Professional perspectives about informed consent for genomic research participation: a qualitative study. Journal of personalized medicine, 1(2), 135-146. doi: 10.3390/jpm1020135