Informed Consent
From WikiGenetics
To help ensure that patients understand the risks and benefits of health care choices, informed consent is an important part of the medical decision-making process. For patients considering genetic testing, the following items should be carefully discussed and understood before consent is obtained:
- Testing is voluntary
- Risks, limitations, and benefits of testing or not testing
- Alternatives to genetic testing
- Details of the testing process (for example, what type of sample is required, accuracy of
test, turn-around time, etc.)
- Privacy/confidentiality of test results
- Potential consequences related to results including
- Impact on health
- Possible emotional and psychological reactions
- Treatment/prevention options
- Ramifications for family
