There exists today a fast growing availability of personal genetic information. Its prognostic impact and value for an individual or family member's health is sometimes unclear, whilst at other times it is clear-cut. The issue of whether to disclose genetic information does however have wide ranging implications. Avoiding the rhetoric of 'genetic exceptionalism', and drawing on an expanded field of bioethical, sociological and anthropological research, this book sets a new agenda for discussing the ethics surrounding the disclosure of prognostic genetic information. A hermeneutical approach reconsiders the ethics of disclosure in a variety of contexts in which genetic information is generated, requested, interpreted or communicated - from the provider perspective, but also from the moral perspectives of clients and their families. It is in situations of disclosure, in these different contexts, that genetic information meets morality. Providers and recipients can become vulnerable to the revelation or concealment of information, and the forms in which it may be provided. Disclosure Dilemmas invites readers to explore these contexts from an ethical viewpoint and will be a valuable resource for anyone with an interest in biomedical ethics.

About the Author
Christoph Rehmann-Sutter is a philosopher and molecular biologist, specialising in bioethics. He is Professor of Theory and Ethics in Biosciences at the University of LA1/4beck, Germany. From 2001-2009 he was President of the Swiss National Advisory Commission on Biomedical Ethics. He has published extensively in the fields of ethics of genetics and bioethics and is a Visiting Professor at BIOS, London School of Economics.

Reviews

'This is a simply splendid book, at the cutting edge of bioethics, clinical genetics, and the social sciences. This deserves to be a landmark in scholarship on the ethics and practice of clinical medicine. Any clinician, ethicist or social scientist interested in contemporary medical practice would profit from reading it.' Richard Ashcroft, Queen Mary University of London, UK 'I heartily recommend this book both for practitioners of clinical genetics and genetic counselling and for all those interested in the social and ethical issues that arise in the clinical setting. The editors have assembled a very fine set of essays of 'informed reflection' upon these topics, written by a first rate set of international contributors.' Angus Clarke, Cardiff University, UK '...this book is highly recommended for everyone interested in the impact of our actions on future people-not for philosophers only.' Medicine, Health Care & Philosophy '...this book sketches a thorough map of some of the most pressing ethical issues arising from current developments in biomedicine. Its attempt to bridge the gaps between bioethics, genetic medicine, law and sociology is very valuable and makes the volume potentially useful to those from any of these disciplines... this volume shows quite compellingly the importance of taking seriously into account the medical, legal and social contexts in which biomedicine is situated. It will certainly enrich those who are interested in the applied ethics of biomedicine.' Genomics, Society and Policy

Book Information
ISBN 9780367603120
Author Hansjakob Muller
Format Paperback
Page Count 296
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 453g