An overwhelming majority of European clinical geneticists surveyed spoke out against the availability of direct-to-consumer genetic tests for serious or untreatable/unpreventable health issues, in a study published in the May 22, 2013, issue of the journal Genome Medicine.
Without a face-to-face consultation with a trusted physician, the geneticists suggested, consumers may over- or under-estimate the reliability of the tests, the value of the results, and the potential consequences of those results. The geneticists did not, however, object to direct-to-consumer tests for less serious health issues.
Read the full study here: Survey of European clinical geneticists on awareness, experiences and attitudes towards direct-to-consumer genetic testing
Additional Resources:
- “Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing: A New View,” Public Library of Science
In this blog post, the author discusses early fears about direct-to-consumer genetic testing and how those issues. have played out. - “Get ready for the risks of genetic testing,” CNN
A cautious op-ed about direct-to-consumer genetic testing.
