Consumer Genetic Technologies : Ethical and Legal Considerations

As genetic testing becomes more commonplace, affordable, and comprehensive, the legal and ethical issues surrounding these technologies loom ever larger. Assembling experts from diverse fields, this volume considers key questions around protecting consumer safety and privacy throughout the many different models used to deliver consumer genetics.

For the average person, genetic testing has two very different faces. The rise of genetic testing is often promoted as the democratization of genetics by enabling individuals to gain insights into their unique makeup. At the same time, many have raised concerns that genetic testing and sequencing reveal intensely personal and private information. As these technologies become increasingly available as consumer products, the ethical, legal, and regulatory challenges presented by genomics are ever looming. Assembling multidisciplinary experts, this volume evaluates the different models used to deliver consumer genetics and considers a number of key questions: How should we mediate privacy and other ethical concerns around genetic databases? Does aggregating data from genetic testing turn people into products by commercializing their data? How might this data reduce or exacerbate existing healthcare disparities? Contributing authors also provide guidance on protecting consumer privacy and safety while promoting innovation.