Genetic Screenings as Public Policy: Benefits, Limitations, Risks, and Public Perception

Genetic screenings mark a quantum leap forward in diagnostic capability and could be a powerful boon to public-health informatics. However, the integration of genetic screenings into public-policy frameworks requires a careful consideration of benefits and risks. A growing body of literature concerning the ethical implications of genetic screenings describes their potential to cause psychological sequelae, encourage unnecessary prophylaxes, and foster a climate that is implicitly intolerant of genetic diversity. The public's perception of, and responses to these risks are shaped by historical instances of genetic discrimination, personal experience, and sociocultural values. As genetic screenings grow increasingly powerful and affordable--and thus more alluring as a facet of public-health policy--understanding why the public is wary of genetic screenings will help bioethicists at the public-policy vanguard hedge against harm and discrimination while protecting genetic diversity.