Invited editorial essay: Public interest in genetics and genetics in the public interest

✍ Scribed by Holtzman, Neil A. ;Opitz, John M.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1980
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 541 KB
• Volume: 5
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0148-7299
• DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.1320050409

✦ Synopsis

Public interest in genetics has increased as screening, antenatal detection, accurate diagnosis and effective treatment have become possible for more and more conditions. To satisfy public needs and expectations, genetics is expanding to a discipline with important service and educational components. The creation of a full-blown medical specialty, which has power to certify and accredit, can protect the public and the profession from incompetents and charlatans. Certifying specialists will not, however, assure the availability of genetic services. Here, I examine deficiencies in the delivery of genetic services and their relation to specialization and to geovernment intervention. I then turn to another aspect of genetics that has stimulated public interest and concern: environmental mutagens. Finally, I describe mechanisms for greater public involvement in the development of policies concerning genetics in order to assure genetics in the public interest.