Healthy Skepticism Library item: 14034

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Committee on Genetics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Committee on Ethics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
ACOG Committee Opinion No. 409: Direct-to-consumer marketing of genetic testing
Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Jun; 111:(6):1493-4
http://www.greenjournal.org/cgi/reprint/111/6/1493

Abstract:

Marketing of genetic testing, although similar to direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs, raises additional concerns and considerations. These include issues of limited knowledge among patients and health care providers of available genetic tests, difficulty in interpretation of genetic testing results, lack of federal oversight of companies offering genetic testing, and issues of privacy and confidentiality. Until all of these considerations are addressed, direct or home genetic testing should be discouraged because of the potential harm of a misinterpreted or inaccurate result.

Keywords:
Advertising as Topic/legislation & jurisprudence* Genetic Screening/legislation & jurisprudence* Humans United States