Narrating The New Predictive Genetics: Ethics, Ethnography And Science (cambridge Studies In Society And The Life Sciences)

This book explores the way changes in technology have altered the relationship between ethics and medicine. For some inherited diseases, new genetic testing technologies may provide much more accurate diagnostic and predictive information which raises important questions about consent, confidentiality and use of the information by family members and other third parties. What are the implications of this knowledge for individuals and their families? And for society more widely? How should this new information be used? How do people deal with the choices that new knowledge and technologies offer? Drawing on extensive ethnographic research with families affected by Huntington's Disease, and using perspectives from medical and cultural anthropology, the author explores the huge disparity between the experience of living with the results of genetic testing and the knowledge and expertise which are drawn on to develop policy and clinical services. This Book Explores The Way Changes In Technology Have Altered The Relationship Between Ethics And Medicine. For Some Inherited Diseases, New Genetic Testing Technologies May Provide Much More Accurate Diagnostic And Predictive Information Which Raises Important Questions About Consent, Confidentiality And The Use Of Information By Family Members And Other Third Parties. Drawing On Extensive Ethnographic Research With Families Affected By Huntington's Disease And Using Perspectives From Medical And Cultural Anthropology, The Author Explores The Huge Disparity Between The Experience Of Living With The Results Of Genetic Testing And The Knowledge And Expertise Which Are Drawn On To Develop Policy And Clinical Services.--jacket. Thinking Futures -- Approaching Translocations -- Foretelling Foreknowledge -- Tracing Genealogies Of Non-disclosure -- Reproducing Exclusion -- Relinquishing Exclusion -- Concluding Remarks. Monica Konrad. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 180-196) And Index. "This book explores the way changes in technology have altered the relationship between ethics and medicine. For some inherited diseases, new genetic testing technologies may provide much more accurate diagnostic and predictive information which raises important questions about consent, confidentiality and the use of information by family members and other third parties. Drawing on extensive ethnographic research with families affected by Huntington's Disease and using perspectives from medical and cultural anthropology, the author explores the huge disparity between the experience of living with the results of genetic testing and the knowledge and expertise which are drawn on to develop policy and clinical services."--BOOK JACKET This work explores the way changes in technology have affected the relationship between ethics and medicine, generating new approaches to ethical issues and the implications of medical practice. Drawing on extensive ethnographic research with families affected by Huntington's Disease, Monica Konrad explores the huge disparity between the experience of living with the results of genetic testing and the knowledge and expertise to develop policy, clinical services and support. This book explores how new techniques in genetic testing have changed the relationship between ethics and medicine. Drawing on research with families affected by Huntington's Disease, the author highlights the disparity between actually living with the results of genetic testing and the public debates around genetic testing and medicine.