PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J F Smurl

Publications and source records attributed to J F Smurl.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1987

Presymptomatic testing for Huntington chorea: guidelines for moral and social accountability.

Clinical trials of a presymptomatic test for Huntington chorea (HC) are beginning, and the test may set precedents in screening for other genetic disorders in this way. Therefore, it seems an opportune time to consider the moral and social implications of such testing. The strategy proposed here takes the form of guidelines for research, development, and clinical application of the HC test and any future similar tests. The guidelines cover four stages (preliminary research, verification, refinement, and clinical application). They draw on past experience, on existing guidelines for research involving human subjects, and on some general moral and legal principles. In addition to traditional concerns about relationships between counselors and consultants, they emphasize more contemporary concerns about the interests of third parties and social institutions in what occurs in modern methods of genetic screening. In all cases, however, the guidelines are provisional and are offered here mainly for purposes of discussion and to encourage similar efforts at policymaking by those who become involved with these forms of testing.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1984

Ethical considerations in medical genetics--the prenatal diagnosis of hemophilia B.

A couple is presented who underwent prenatal counseling and amniocentesis for sex determination because the wife was an obligate carrier of hemophilia B. Although the fetus was determined to be male, the parents elected not to have further testing to determine if he had hemophilia or not. The difficulties in the in utero diagnosis of hemophilia B are presented and discussed. In addition, the moral reasoning and decision-making process that this couple went through regarding the decision not to have further fetal testing and to continue the pregnancy is presented and analyzed. These moral decisions appear to be based on family and personal ties, and bonding to the fetus after perception of fetal movement. They combine considerations of the duties and rights involved in such situations, and attend to the anticipated consequences as well.

Adult↗