[Risk communication through genetic counselling: requirements and problems]

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Medical Ethics
• Public Health Policy

Context:

• Genetic counseling is vital for informed consent and client autonomy in genetic testing.
• Current medical practice often neglects integrating genetic diagnosis with counseling.
• There's a gap between the importance of genetic counseling and its implementation.

Purpose:

• To highlight the essential role of genetic counseling in genetic risk communication.
• To advocate for mandatory genetic counseling, particularly for prenatal and predictive testing.
• To emphasize the need for standardized quality, counselor qualifications, and resource allocation.

Summary:

• Genetic counseling is the primary method for communicating genetic risks, supporting medical and psychosocial needs, and ensuring client autonomy via informed consent.
• Key principles include voluntariness, individuality, non-directiveness, and respecting the right not to know.
• The integration of genetic diagnosis with counseling is frequently overlooked, necessitating legislative action.

Impact:

• Urgent need for legislation mandating genetic counseling before specific genetic tests.
• Establishment and enforcement of clear quality standards for genetic counseling.
• Requirement for adequate personnel and institutional resources to support effective genetic counseling.