Testing the limits of Bioethics: the case of DTC Genetic Testing

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Published: Feb 8, 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/bioeth.19862
Σοφία Ζέρβα (Sophia Zerva)
University of Patras, School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras
Ολυμπιάδα Λαχανά (Olympiada Lachana)
University of Patras, School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras
Ελένη Μπουραζάνη (Eleni Mpourazani)
University of Patras, School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras
Ελευθερία Παπουτσάκη (Eleftheria Papoutsaki)
University of Patras, School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras
Κωνσταντίνος Πετρόπουλος (Konstantinos Petropoulos)
University of Patras, School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras
Μαίρη Χριστοφίδη (Mairy Christophidi)
University of Patras, School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras
Θεοδώρα Κάτσιλα (Theodora Katsila)
University of Patras, School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras
Γεώργιος Πατρινός (Giorgos Patrinos)
University of Patras, School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, Patras, Greece Department of Pathology, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
Abstract

Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) genetic tests are commercial services provided online, in drugstores and/or via television and press devoid of the consultation by a health professional or geneticist. Today, there are issues regarding their data validity and interpretation and the ethics of their use, as they allow access to the users’ genetic makeup.
Indeed, DTC genetic services can influence consumers’ private life as well as the lives of those around them. We feel that DTC genetic tests and services need to be regulated and notably, regulation measures should be standardized among national and multinational regulatory bodies.

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