Medical Decision Making and the Previvor

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Genetics
• Health Law

Background:

• Genetic testing identifies individuals with a predisposition to disease, termed "previvors."
• The concept of previvorship highlights the evolving nature of medical practice and decision-making.
• Current legal frameworks and policies struggle to accommodate advancements in genetic medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the impact of previvorship on the physician-patient relationship and informed consent.
• To advocate for a transition towards shared decision-making models in healthcare.
• To explore the need for updated legal doctrines that support contemporary medical practices.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of medical ethics and legal doctrine.
• Review of the implications of genetic predisposition on patient autonomy.
• Examination of the challenges posed by risk/benefit assessment and uncertainty.

Main Results:

• The previvor experience challenges traditional informed consent, revealing its declining utility.
• Existing legal doctrines are increasingly inapplicable to modern medical scenarios.
• There is a clear need for a new legal framework supporting shared decision-making.

Conclusions:

• A shared decision-making model is essential to address patient values, complex risk assessments, and medical uncertainty.
• This model promotes a more inclusive and expansive understanding of illness.
• Legal doctrines must evolve to support patient-centered, collaborative healthcare decisions.