Stakeholder perspectives on informed consent for the use of genomic data by commercial entities
Webinar Report
Baergen Schultz, Francis E Agamah, Cornelius Ewuoso, Ebony B Madden, Jennifer Troyer, Michelle Skelton, Erisa Mwaka
Journal of Medical Ethics, 20 March 2023
Abstract
In July 2020, the H3Africa Ethics and Community Engagement (E&CE) Working Group organised a webinar with ethics committee members and biomedical researchers from various African institutions throughout the Continent to discuss the issue of whether and how biological samples for scientific research may be accessed by commercial entities when broad consents obtained for the samples are silent. 128 people including Research Ethics Committee members (10), H3Africa researchers (46) including members of the E&CE working group, biomedical researchers not associated with H3Africa (27), representatives from the National Institutes of Health (16) and 10 other participants attended the webinar and shared their views. Several major themes emerged during the webinar, with the topics of broad versus explicit informed consent, defining commercial use, legacy samples and benefit sharing prevailing in the discussion. This report describes the consensus concerns and recommendations raised during the meeting and will be informative for future research on ethical considerations for genomic research in the African research context.

Ethical Considerations of Genome Sequencing for Pediatric Patients
Michelle M Sergi, Melissa C Keinath, Jonathan Fanaroff, Kathryn E Miller
Seminars in Pediatric Neurology, 1 March 2023
Abstract
Advancements in genetic testing in the healthcare setting, most recently genomic sequencing, has enhanced our ability to diagnose genetic conditions. These advances include increased accessibility and affordability of genomic technologies. With expanded use comes the potential for significant ethical challenges for clinicians, particularly considering the implications of testing a child for one condition and incidentally finding a different condition or health risk. In this focused review, we address various ethical considerations from informed consent to the rights of a child undergoing genetic testing.

Revisiting informed consent in forensic genomics in light of current technologies and the times
Original Article
Bruce Budowle, Antti Sajantila
International Journal of Legal Medicine, 16 January 2023
Open Access
Abstract
Informed consent is based on basic ethical principles that should be considered when conducting biomedical and behavioral research involving human subjects. These principles—respect, beneficence, and justice—form the foundations of informed consent which in itself is grounded on three fundamental elements: information, comprehension, and voluntary participation. While informed consent has focused on human subjects and research, the practice has been adopted willingly in the forensic science arena primarily to acquire reference samples from family members to assist in identifying missing persons. With advances in molecular biology technologies, data mining, and access to metadata, it is important to assess whether the past informed consent process and in particular associated risks are concomitant with these increased capabilities. Given the state-of-the-art, areas in which informed consent may need to be modified and augmented are as follows: reference samples from family members in missing persons or unidentified human remains cases; targeted analysis of an individual(s) during forensic genetic genealogy cases to reduce an investigative burden; donors who provide their samples for validation studies (to include population studies and entry into databases that would be applied to forensic statistical calculations) to support implementation of procedures and operations of the forensic laboratory; family members that may contribute samples or obtain genetic information from a molecular autopsy; and use of medical and other acquired samples that could be informative for identification purposes. The informed consent process should cover (1) purpose for collection of samples; (2) process to analyze the samples (to include type of data); (3) benefits (to donor, target, family, community, etc. as applicable); (4) risks (to donor, target, family, community, etc. as applicable); (5) access to data/reports by the donor; (6) sample disposition; (7) removal of data process (i.e., expungement); (8) process to ask questions/assessment of comprehension; (9) follow-up processes; and (10) voluntary, signed, and dated consent. Issues surrounding these topics are discussed with an emphasis on addressing risk factors. Addressing informed consent will allow human subjects to make decisions voluntarily and with autonomy as well as secure the use of samples for intended use.

Informed consent for expanded carrier screening: Past, present, and future
Review
Britton D. Rink
Prenatal Diagnosis, 13 January 2023
Abstract
History, law, bioethics, and geocultural influences all have impacted the modern application of informed consent. It is a complex, multilayered process to communicate information and obtain voluntary patient permission before a health care intervention. Lack of provider education about genetic disorders, complexities of advanced genomic technologies, limited time during patient encounters, and low health literacy within a population all represent challenges to effective communication. There is no consensus on how informed consent in reproductive genetics is optimally obtained. Expanded carrier screening (ECS) is purposed to simultaneously test for a large list of diseases in a pan-ethnic manner. The increased use of ECS is driven by advances in genomic technologies, decreased cost, an improved understanding of single gene disorders, and in support of reproductive autonomy. Academic organizations recommend pretest counseling when patients consider ECS, yet best practice is not established. Ongoing research is needed to determine how optimally implement informed consent given the increased complexity of ECS.

Community Genetics screening in a pandemic: solutions for pre-test education, informed consent, and specimen collection
Viewpoint
Bronwyn Terrill, Lauren McKnight, Angela Pearce, Heather Gordon, William Lo, I-Chieh Jennifer Lee, Monica Runiewicz, Alex Palmer, Lesley Andrews, Edwin Kirk, Daniel Goldberg, John Tucker, David Murray, Warren Kaplan, Sarah Kummerfeld, Leslie Burnett
European Journal of Human Genetics, 11 January 2023
Open Access
Abstract
A Community Genetics carrier screening program for the Jewish community has operated on-site in high schools in Sydney (Australia) for 25 years. During 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, government-mandated social-distancing, ‘lock-down’ public health orders, and laboratory supply-chain shortages prevented the usual operation and delivery of the annual testing program. We describe development of three responses to overcome these challenges: (1) pivoting to online education sufficient to ensure informed consent for both genetic and genomic testing; (2) development of contactless telehealth with remote training and supervision for collecting genetic samples using buccal swabs; and (3) a novel patient and specimen identification ‘GeneTrustee’ protocol enabling fully identified clinical-grade specimens to be collected and DNA extracted by a research laboratory while maintaining full participant confidentiality and privacy. These telehealth strategies for education, consent, specimen collection and sample processing enabled uninterrupted delivery and operation of complex genetic testing and screening programs even amid pandemic restrictions. These tools remain available for future operation and can be adapted to other programs.

Evaluating visual imagery for participant understanding of research concepts in genomics research
Original Article
Erin Rothwell, Naomi O. Riches, Erin Johnson, Kimberly A. Kaphingst, Kelsey Kehoe, Sabrina Malone Jenkins, Rachel Palmquist, Carrie Torr, Caren J. Frost, Bob Wong, Joshua L. Bonkowsky
Journal of Community Genetics, 19 December 2022
Abstract
Informed consent is crucial for participant understanding, engagement, and partnering for research. However, current written informed consents have significant limitations, particularly for complex topics such as genomics and biobanking. Our goal was to identify how participants visually conceptualize terminology used in genomics and biobanking research studies, which might provide a novel approach for informed consent. An online convenience sample was used from May to July 2020 to collect data. Participants were asked to draw 10 randomly chosen words out of 32 possible words commonly used in consent forms for genomics and biobanking research. An electronic application captured drawings that were downloaded into a qualitative software program for analysis. A total of 739 drawings by 269 participants were captured. Participants were mostly female (61.3%), eight different race/ethnicities were represented (15.6% Black, 13.8% Hispanic), and most had some college education (68.8%). Some words had consistent visual themes such as different types of risky activities for risk or consistent specific images such as a double helix for DNA. Several words were frequently misunderstood (e.g., ascend for assent), while others returned few submissions (e.g., phenotype or whole genome sequencing). We found that although some words used in genomics and biobanking research were visually conceptualized in a common fashion, but misunderstood or less well-known words had no, few, or mistaken drawings. Future research can explore the incorporation of visual images to improve participant comprehension during consent processes, and how to utilize visual imagery to address more challenging concepts.

Rapid Genome Sequencing: Consent for New Technologies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Context
Fiona Lynch, Trisha Prentice, Lynn Gillam, Zornitza Stark, Christopher Gyngell
Pediatrics, 29 November 2022; 150(6)
Abstract
     The clinical utility of rapid genome sequencing (rGS) in critically unwell infants has been consistently demonstrated, and there are calls for rGS to be implemented as a first-line test in the NICU. A diagnosis from rGS can enable rapid initiation of precision treatment, making it potentially lifesaving. However, in many patients rGS leads to the diagnosis of severe and life-limiting conditions, prompting discussion with families about withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment.

The complexity of information about rGS, together with the heightened emotions of parents in the NICU, poses significant challenges for informed decision making in this context. We present a case where both parents are unable to provide informed consent, and the treating team must decide whether to proceed with rGS. Our discussion highlights the important differences between genome sequencing and other types of genetic testing, and the crucial role played by pre-test counseling in facilitating informed consent and preparing parents for a range of possible outcomes. We then discuss the consent paradigms at play in NICUs; whereas admission generally comes with an understanding that the treating team will perform interventions thought to be in the best interest of the child, rGS is substantially different because of its long-term implications for patients and family members. Finally, we look at the ethical interplay between parental consent and the interests of the child. We conclude by showing how cases like this are resolved at our tertiary center and how they may be resolved differently in future.

Patient informed consent for a clinical trial of gene-edited pig kidney transplantation: A representative consent form
Original Article
David K. C. Cooper
Xenotransplantation, 26 November 2022
Abstract
When clinical trials of gene-edited pig organ transplantation are initiated, the consent form that the patient is requested to sign will be an important document. Consent to receive a pig xenograft will have significant differences when compared with the requirements of most experimental clinical procedures. We here suggest a consent form for pig kidney transplantation that addresses the major points that will be required and hope it will provide a basis for discussion and future modification, if necessary. There is purposely some repetition in the document, but we believe this is necessary to ensure that the patient has a clear understanding of what he/she is consenting to.

Equitable and Informed Consent in Genetic Studies
Editor’s Note
Ann Marie Navar, Sadiya S. Khan
JAMA Cardiology, 16 November 2022
Excerpt
…Importantly, these participants comprised an already highly selected population in whom higher levels of both genetic knowledge and researcher trust would be expected. Participants were recruited largely from tertiary care academic centers, were cared for by a heart failure program, and had consented to undergo whole-exome sequencing. Despite this, several knowledge gaps were identified. For example, 1 in 5 patients believed that once a genetic variant is found, disease can always be prevented or cured. Genetic knowledge was also lower in Hispanic participants and non-Hispanic Black participants compared with non-Hispanic White participants. Reasons for this are unknown, likely multifactorial, and may include differences in exposure to prior education about genetics, disparities in prior referrals for genetic counseling, and differences in the effectiveness of the informed consent process in addressing gaps in knowledge about genetic testing…