Ethical problems with neonatal screening.
نویسندگان
چکیده
The availability of novel technologies, such as tandem-mass-spectrometry (MS/MS) and DNA analysis, has expanded tremendously the number of genetic conditions that can be diagnosed through neonatal screening programs at birth, including conditions that cannot be treated nor prevented, or that will become manifest only later in life, or that identify individuals that are only at an increased risk of multifactorial conditions. This has increased the number and complexity of ethical problems related to newborn screening programs, creating considerable confusion and generating controversies and ethical concerns. The experience so far gained indicates that, besides the incomplete knowledge of many aspects of the conditions to be identified, the majority of screening programs do not pay sufficient attention to the problems of communication, information and counselling of the parents. Therefore, communication must be substantially improved if we wish to increase the efficiency of such programs and avoid possible unwanted side effects. Furthermore, ethical issues should receive more attention and consideration for a better and more complete understanding of the overall impact of neonatal screening programs. This more extensive and ethically correct approach should allow us to find an optimal equilibrium between the potential benefits and the possible damages deriving from neonatal screening programs.
منابع مشابه
I-20: Towards The Transparent Embryo: Dynamics and Ethics of Comprehensive Preimplantation Genetic Screening
Background: To study the ethical aspects of comprehensive preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) through microarrays and whole genome sequencing Materials and Methods: In order to pinpoint ethical issues regarding comprehensive embryo screening we have first investigated the technical and moral issues by organizing a campus meeting with experts and by a literature study. Subsequently we have i...
متن کاملEthical Issues in Newborn Screening
Newborn screening represents an important preventive public health program. Over the time, there were debates about the criteria for inclusion of some diseases in newborn screening. Discussions on the expansion of newborn screening programs focus on three aspects: informed consent, costs and evidence. The authors present data on the criteria that must meet newborn screening and different ethica...
متن کاملNew technologies for genetic and newborn screening: a medical, legal, and ethical update. April 23, 1990.
متن کامل
Newborn Screening for Sickle Cell Disease: Socio-Ethical Implications
Newborn screening is now integrated into routine neonatal practice in many parts of the world, and the overall ethical acceptability of newborn screening programmes is well recognised.1 Although the procedure corresponds in essence to genetic screening, it is seldom referred to as such and is often categorised as a public health disease prevention programme aimed at early detection and treatmen...
متن کاملIntroduction to Bioethics Special Supplement V: Ethical Issues in Genomic Testing of Children.
Next-generation genome sequencing of children is one of the most promising and most challenging new technologies in pediatrics. On the one hand, it offers the hope that we will be able to diagnose rare conditions that were previously impossible to diagnose, which, in turn, might lead to new treatments. On the other hand, the technology for sequencing presents daunting problems of interpretation...
متن کاملذخیره در منابع من
با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید
عنوان ژورنال:
- Annali dell'Istituto superiore di sanita
دوره 45 3 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2009