Geneticists approach ethics: an international survey

Area of Science:

• Medical Genetics
• Bioethics

Background:

• A 1985 proposal suggested medical geneticists benefit from reflecting on common ethical challenges.
• A 1985-86 survey by Wertz & Fletcher documented geneticists' views in 19 nations, with widely disseminated results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a new, expanded international survey of medical geneticists' perspectives on ethical decision-making in genetics.
• To update and broaden the scope of the original 1985-86 survey.

Main Methods:

• Conducting a new survey of medical geneticists across 37 nations.
• Building upon the methodology of the previous Wertz & Fletcher (1985-86) survey.

Main Results:

• The paper describes the initiation of a new international survey.
• Details on the survey's expansion to 37 nations are provided.

Conclusions:

• The ongoing survey aims to capture contemporary ethical viewpoints of medical geneticists globally.
• This research continues to foster international dialogue on practical genetics ethics.