Keywords
human genome
genetic diagnosis
predictive medicine
bioethical dilemmas
manipulation
consent
bioethics
How to Cite
Abstract
Predictive Medicine seeks, as possible, to prevent diseases and to develop new therapeutic alternatives, always considering the human dignity and the natural and socio-cultural environment. With the development of the Human Genome project, there has been an exponential growing in the application of one Predictive Medicine branch: the Predictive Genetics. In this paper an analysis of technique–scientific purposes and benefits of the Predictive Genetics is shown, relating them with the ethical principles and the possible bioethical dilemmas. Some of the ideas developed in this article are: The predictive genetic diagnosis is useful, with the family history as a basis, to evaluate the risk to develop any hereditary illness; some historical mistakes have been caused by a wrong management of the information about diseases; there are various controversial points of view around the manipulation of genes that involve the selfish will of scientists and physicians; it is necessary a patient gives his/her informed consent to be practiced genetic tests; the economical issue could be a limiting matter to get the benefits of the Genome knowledge; and, there is currently a crisis of the Health concept.
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