Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Hastings Law Journal
Publication Date
2013
ISSN
0017-8322
Page Number
1649
Keywords
human genetics, gene mapping, law and legislation
Disciplines
Health Law and Policy | Law | Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility | Medical Jurisprudence
Abstract
Genome sequencing technology provides new and promising tests for clinical practice, including whole genome sequencing, which measures an individual's complete DNA sequence, and whole exome sequencing, which measures the DNA for all genes coding for proteins. These technologies make it possible to test for multiple genes in a single test, which increases the efficiency of genetic testing. However, they can also produce large amounts of information that cannot be interpreted or is of limited clinical utility. This additional information could be distracting for patients and clinicians, and contribute to unnecessary healthcare costs. The potential for genomic sequencing to improve care will be context-dependent, varying for different patients and clinical settings. This Article argues that a disciplined approach is needed, incorporating research to assess when and how genomic information can improve clinical outcomes, practice guidelines that direct optimal uses of genomic sequencing, and efforts to limit the production of genomic information unrelated to the clinical needs of the patient. Without this approach, genomic testing could add to current unsustainable healthcare costs and prove unaffordable in the long run.
Recommended Citation
Ellen Wright Clayton, Wylie Burke, and Susan Brown Trinidad,
Seeking Genomic Knowledge: The Case for Clinical Restraint, 64 Hastings Law Journal. 1649
(2013)
Available at: https://scholarship.law.vanderbilt.edu/faculty-publications/208
Included in
Health Law and Policy Commons, Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Commons, Medical Jurisprudence Commons