Ethical and Legal Issues in the Diffusion of Genetic Tests

The objective of this project is to determine the extent to which physician preparedness and commercial interest affect the diffusion of genetic tests. With an insufficient number of trained geneticists to provide tests, non-geneticists physicians-including obstetricians, internists, family physicians, pediatricians, and psychiatrists-will be involved in genetic testing. In this project, the knowledge of physicians and master's level genetics associates, and their attitudes toward genetic testing will be determined. Many genetic tests are performed in university laboratories and offer little financial reward. Mapping of the human genome has already stimulated commercial interest. The extent to which commercial support of scientists working in universities as well as in industry influences the sharing of research findings and interest in tests for rare diseases will be determined.