Genetic Counselling Practice and Principles

Contributions to this study are drawn both from health professionals engaged in genetic counselling and from observers and critics with backgrounds in law, philosophy, biology, and the social sciences. This diversity will enable health professonals to examine their activities with a fresh eye, and will help the observer-critic to understand the ethical problems that arise in genetic counselling practice, rather than in imaginary encounters. Most examinations of the ethical issues raised by genetics are concerned in a broad sense with the application of new technology to human reproduction. This volume focuses on genetic counselling and screening as such, providing valuable insights for the health professional, social scientist, philosopher, lawyer, and bioethicist.

Introduction; Chapter 1 Genetic counselling, A.Caroline Berry; Chapter 2 Genetic counselling, Ann Williams; Chapter 3 Predictive testing of adults and children, Barbara Ball, Audrey Tyler, Peter Harper; Chapter 4 Ethical issues in newborn screening for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Evelyn Parsons, Don Bradley; Chapter 5 Termination of a second-trimester pregnancy for fetal abnormality, Margaretha White-van Mourik; Chapter 6 Lessons from a dark and distant past, Benno Müller-Hill; Chapter 7 Prenatal genetic testing and screening*Prenatal diagnosis, the focus of much of this chapter, is troublesome for all women, users and critics alike. In no way do I intend my remarks about it to reflect on women who have considered or undergone testing; criticism of the technologies is not to be read as criticisms of them. Women considering childbearing today face agonizing issues I was fortunate enough not to have to confront, and I can only admire their resilience and strength., Abby Lippman; Chapter 8 Medical genetics and mental handicap, Lydia Sinclair, Matthew Griffiths; Chapter 9 The rights and interests of children and those with a mental handicap, Jonathan Montgomery; Chapter 10 Confidentiality in genetic counselling, Paula Boddington; Chapter 11 Genetic reductionism and medical genetic practice, Maureen Ramsay;

Angus Clarke