Questions around the ownership of genetic information also relate to perceptions of autonomy and hierarchy within the family. A family as a group is made of individuals that are often not viewed or treated as equals. Perceptions of ownership are legally and culturally accepted within the traditional family structure.
What is the status of children? Do [...]
The right not to know is an intriguing concept in this information age. Can knowledge be damaging? And within the genetic moral code, can ignorance be bliss?
Once genetic information is revealed without request, the potential carrier has to deal with the implications of this knowledge while not having the time to emotionally prepare. The privilege [...]
Ethical questions around the disclosure of genetic information to family members can contribute to the nature versus nurture debate. A transmitted mutation is given by nature, but it is in being informed of its existence that behaviour may change.
Although genetic information is inherently familial, to expect it to be distributed between all family members is [...]
Arribus-Allyson distinguishes between two forms of blame: internal states of the person (self-blame) or ethico-moral attributions to other persons (other-oriented responsibility). Self blame is intertwined with notions of guilt, however genetic other-oriented blame in the family sphere is more complex.
Holding one’s parents culpable for biological suffering has severe implications. Not only is this an action [...]
From Hallowell: “…previous research suggests that genetic testing may, indeed, lead to negative emotions such as guilt, blame and resentment within the family and these may have a deleterious effect on family relationships (e.g. Tibben et al. 1992, Chapple et al. 1995, Fanos and Johnson 1995).”
What is this deleterious effect? The existence of blame in [...]