| Description |
Recent years have seen the explosive development of genetics and its subsequent use in medical practice. In the face of such rapid technological advancement that impacts the health of thousands each year and constitutes a multi-million-dollar industry, ethical analysis of the various shortcomings these tests imply is desperately needed. This work constitutes a part of that analysis, addressing the ethical significance of the underlying procedures and data used to understand and classify genetic variants. In analyzing the American College of Medical Genetics' standard guidelines, three broad categories of evidence are identified which distinguish between data obtained from structural analysis, database and model use, and family history. Various sources of uncertainty are identified by probing into the explanatory weaknesses of each kind of data and how they are used to make classification decisions. Subsequent analysis describes how these various sources of uncertainty, along with others, affect the process of result communication to patients. In conclusion, a view of genetic uncertainty is compared to the uncertainties presented, to highlight areas of particular concern for further ethical discussion. |
