TY - JOUR
T1 - Disclosing Genetic Information to Family Members About Inherited Cardiac Arrhythmias
T2 - An Obligation or a Choice?
AU - Vavolizza, Rick D.
AU - Kalia, Isha
AU - Aaron, Kathleen Erskine
AU - Silverstein, Louise B.
AU - Barlevy, Dorit
AU - Wasserman, David
AU - Walsh, Christine
AU - Marion, Robert W.
AU - Dolan, Siobhan M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014, National Society of Genetic Counselors, Inc.
PY - 2015/8/30
Y1 - 2015/8/30
N2 - Inherited cardiac arrhythmias such as long QT syndrome and Brugada syndrome, present clinical as well as ethical, legal, and social challenges. Many individuals who carry a deleterious mutation are largely asymptomatic and therefore may not be diagnosed until after the occurrence of a personal or family member’s cardiac event. The familial nature of inherited genetic information raises numerous ethical, legal, and social issues regarding the sharing of genetic information, particularly when an individual found to carry a deleterious mutation refuses to disclose his or her results to at-risk family members who could benefit from life-saving treatments. This qualitative study sought to understand the experiences with genetic testing for individuals (n = 50) with a personal or family history of cardiac events or sudden death. Unstructured in-person focus groups or interviews were conducted for each participant in the study. The recordings of these interviews were transcribed verbatim and subsequently analyzed and coded. Participants’ comments regarding sharing of genetic information centered around four main themes: (1) motivation to disclose; (2) extent of disclosure; (3) effect of disclosure on family dynamics; and (4) reasons for not sharing genetic information. The majority of individuals believed that affected individuals are obligated to disclose genetic information to family members. In the era of personalized medicine, the disclosure of genetic information provides individuals the opportunities to learn about the genetics, disease characteristics, and treatment options in order to reduce morbidity and mortality in themselves and their family members. Further research is necessary to identify and explore the barriers to sharing genetic information with at-risk family members.
AB - Inherited cardiac arrhythmias such as long QT syndrome and Brugada syndrome, present clinical as well as ethical, legal, and social challenges. Many individuals who carry a deleterious mutation are largely asymptomatic and therefore may not be diagnosed until after the occurrence of a personal or family member’s cardiac event. The familial nature of inherited genetic information raises numerous ethical, legal, and social issues regarding the sharing of genetic information, particularly when an individual found to carry a deleterious mutation refuses to disclose his or her results to at-risk family members who could benefit from life-saving treatments. This qualitative study sought to understand the experiences with genetic testing for individuals (n = 50) with a personal or family history of cardiac events or sudden death. Unstructured in-person focus groups or interviews were conducted for each participant in the study. The recordings of these interviews were transcribed verbatim and subsequently analyzed and coded. Participants’ comments regarding sharing of genetic information centered around four main themes: (1) motivation to disclose; (2) extent of disclosure; (3) effect of disclosure on family dynamics; and (4) reasons for not sharing genetic information. The majority of individuals believed that affected individuals are obligated to disclose genetic information to family members. In the era of personalized medicine, the disclosure of genetic information provides individuals the opportunities to learn about the genetics, disease characteristics, and treatment options in order to reduce morbidity and mortality in themselves and their family members. Further research is necessary to identify and explore the barriers to sharing genetic information with at-risk family members.
KW - Cardiac arrhythmia
KW - Disclosing genetic information
KW - Ethical, Legal, and social issues
KW - Family communication
KW - Genetic counseling
KW - Long QT syndrome
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84938208693&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10897-014-9783-7
DO - 10.1007/s10897-014-9783-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 25400212
AN - SCOPUS:84938208693
SN - 1059-7700
VL - 24
SP - 608
EP - 615
JO - Journal of Genetic Counseling
JF - Journal of Genetic Counseling
IS - 4
ER -