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    Familial genetic risks: how can we better navigate patient confidentiality and appropriate risk disclosure to relatives?


    Dove, Edward, Chico, Vicky, Fay, Michael, Laurie, Graeme, Lucassen, Anneke M and Postan, Emily (2019) Familial genetic risks: how can we better navigate patient confidentiality and appropriate risk disclosure to relatives? Journal of Medical Ethics, 45 (8). pp. 504-507. ISSN 0306-6800

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    Abstract

    This article investigates a high-profile and ongoing dilemma for healthcare professionals (HCPs), namely whether the existence of a (legal) duty of care to genetic relatives of a patient is a help or a hindrance in deciding what to do in cases where a patient’s genetic information may have relevance to the health of the patient’s family members. The English case ABC v St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust and others considered if a duty of confidentiality owed to the patient and a putative duty of care to the patient’s close relatives could coexist in this context. This article examines whether embracing the concept of coexisting duties could enable HCPs to respect duties in line with their clinical judgement, thereby providing legal support and clarity to professionals to allow them to provide the best possible genetics service to both the patient and their family. We argue that these dual duties, framed as a novel, composite duty to consider the interests of genetic relatives, could allow HCPs to exercise and act on their professional judgements about the relative value of information to family members, without fears of liability for negligence or breach of confidence.
    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: Familial; genetic risks; how can; better; navigate; patient confidentiality; appropriate; risk disclosure; relatives;
    Academic Unit: Assisting Living & Learning,ALL institute
    Faculty of Social Sciences > Law
    Item ID: 19911
    Identification Number: 10.1136/medethics-2018-105229
    Depositing User: Edward Dove
    Date Deposited: 27 May 2025 15:07
    Journal or Publication Title: Journal of Medical Ethics
    Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
    Refereed: Yes
    Related URLs:
    URI: https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/19911
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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