Genetics and Personal Responsibility for Health
1National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Box 12233, Mail Drop CU 03, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709. resnikd@niehs.nih.gov .
New Genetics and Society
|January 20, 2015
Summary
Genetic medicine advances suggest personal health responsibility, as individuals can influence genetic risk factors through testing and lifestyle choices. However, public policy has limited roles beyond encouraging prudent health decisions.
Area of Science:
- Bioethics
- Medical Ethics
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Genetic medicine advances offer potential control over previously unmodifiable health risk factors.
- Individuals can make informed decisions regarding genetic testing, disease prevention, and treatment options.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the ethical implications of genetic medicine on personal responsibility for health.
- To assess the applicability of individual moral responsibility for genetic risk factors in public policy.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical analysis of moral responsibility in the context of genetic predispositions.
- Examination of the practical limitations of public policy interventions for genetic risk factors.
Main Results:
- Genetic medicine blurs the lines of personal responsibility by offering control over genetic predispositions.
- A philosophical argument for individual responsibility regarding genetic risks is difficult to translate into effective public policy.
Conclusions:
- While individuals can act on genetic information, society's role in encouraging such actions is limited.
- Public policy should focus on acknowledging and commending responsible choices rather than mandating actions related to genetic risks.
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