No need for options for choice for unsolicited findings in informed consent for clinical genetic testing

No need for options for choice for unsolicited findings in informed consent for clinical genetic testing
Comment
Eline M. Bunnik
European Journal of Human Genetics, 13 July 2023
Open Access
Excerpt
As demand for clinical genetic testing services is rising rapidly, there is a need for approaches to pre-test counselling and informed consent that are equally effective but less time-consuming. In time-constrained settings, physicians may need to limit themselves to conveying key information to enable patients to make informed decisions about genetic testing. However, there is currently a lack of guidance on what constitutes key information about clinical genetic testing. In this issue, Hallquist and colleagues present a list of ‘core concepts’ that are deemed minimally necessary to discuss with patients prior to genetic testing, which was developed by the Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen) Consent and Disclosure Recommendations (CADRe) Workgroup. They report the results of a survey of US-based medical geneticists and genetic counsellors, which validate the CADRe list of core concepts as a model for targeted pre-test discussions. The model can be used as a basis for the development and/or revision of (inter)national guidelines for pre-test counselling and informed consent for clinical genetic testing…

Editor’s note: The article in reference by Hallquist et al. can be found here.