Genetic health care services, present and near future in Japan

A critical review from standpoints of ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) is required to properly develop and distribute genetic services, including genetic testing. In addition to assure analytical validity, clinical validity and clinical utility of the testing, public opinion and perceptions of the community regarding implementation of the testing are important for obtaining informed consent prior to testing. Otherwise, the testing could be done on only limited numbers of community members. Development of effective inversion in clinical practices and regulation to provide confidentiality of all genetic information should bolster the attitude of the community. Education of the public and mass media is the most important factor if progress is to be made in the clinical application of human genome research, and to avoid "genohype".