Psychological aspects of genetic counseling: a legal perspective

Carrier and presymptomatic genetic testing information can have profound psychological consequences for a patient and the family. American and Canadian professional accreditation standards for clinical genetics state that the health care provider must be prepared to provide psychological support. Through a survey of human/medical genetics journals and texts, this article identifies those protocols that constitute an appropriate standard of care, and examines the legal implications, particularly with regard to the law of medical malpractice.