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Genetic counseling and ethical issues for autism
Author(s) -
McMahon William M.,
Baty Bonnie Jeanne,
Botkin Jeffrey
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part c: seminars in medical genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.419
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1552-4876
pISSN - 1552-4868
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.c.30082
Subject(s) - autism , genetic counseling , psychological intervention , psychology , genetic testing , test (biology) , ethical issues , clinical psychology , psychiatry , medicine , engineering ethics , genetics , biology , paleontology , engineering
Exciting progress is being made in the journey toward discovery of genes conferring risk for autism and autism spectrum disorders. Currently, genetic counseling for idiopathic autism rests on clinical diagnosis and empiric risk estimates. While no genetic test for risk of autism currently exists, it is possible that such a test may emerge in the near future, and that commercial availability may precede adequate understanding of test characteristics. The complexity of multifactorial conditions like autism raises a host of ethical and counseling challenges. For families to benefit from new genetic knowledge about autism, it will be important for their practitioners to be knowledgeable about the issues, utilize appropriate educational interventions and emerging management options, and help families across the cultural spectrum cope with these challenges. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.