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Parental attitudes regarding newborn screening of PKU and DMD
Author(s) -
Campbell Elizabeth,
Ross Lainie Friedman
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.064
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1552-4833
pISSN - 1552-4825
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.a.20031
Subject(s) - genetic testing , psychosocial , newborn screening , medicine , predictive testing , genetic counseling , carrier testing , predictive value , family medicine , psychology , developmental psychology , pediatrics , psychiatry , pregnancy , prenatal diagnosis , fetus , biology , genetics
The ability to perform predictive genetic testing of children raises ethical concerns. Current guidelines support the screening of newborns for conditions in which early treatment reduces morbidity and mortality, and oppose most other predictive genetic screening and testing in childhood. Little is known, however, about parental attitudes. We conducted focus groups to gain information on the attitudes, beliefs, and concerns of parents about newborn screening and testing for both treatable and untreatable conditions that present in childhood. Respondents across racial groups support mandatory newborn screening for treatable conditions like phenylketonuria (PKU), citing lack of parental knowledge, and concerns about immature parental decision‐makers. Parents do, however, want more information. Citing a variety of psychosocial concerns, respondents believe that parents should have access to predictive genetic testing for childhood onset conditions, even when there are no proven treatments. Respondents want this information to make reproductive and non‐reproductive plans and decisions. Although respondents varied in their personal interest in testing, overwhelmingly they believed that the decisions belong to the parents. Professional guidelines that proscribe predictive testing for untreatable childhood onset conditions should be re‐examined in light of consumer attitudes. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.