Ethical, social and legal issues in Huntington disease: the nurse's role

The nurse's role will be discussed in relation to the issues which may present as the result of our ability to use predictive tests for neurodegenerative disease. Huntington disease is an autosomal dominant inherited disease, characterised by emotional problems, abnormalities of movement and dementia. The disease is slowly progressive leading to a severely debilitated state and finally death in ten to twenty years. In 1983, DNA testing became available for persons at risk for Huntington disease and for confirmation of diagnosis for those showing symptoms. The availability of testing presents many ethical, social and legal issues for persons at risk, health care professionals and other segments of society. This paper will briefly review the genetic transmission and profession of Huntington disease. It will outline some of the benefits as well as some of the risks and problems DNA testing presents.