Though we live in an age that honors instant gratification, Rhead doesn't expect the human genome project results to offer quick answers. Things we think are important probably aren't and vice versa. Sometimes those mouthfuls take ten to 50 years to chew and swallow and digest. Rhead doesn't foresee gene therapy happening routinely in the next ten to 20 years, but does see the value of developing genetic and prenatal counseling, especially with cases of severe and fatal diseases, areas that create immediate concerns for the general population. He is also mindful of corollary issues that need to be addressed.
Ethical issues pose even deeper concerns.
Rhead supports the efforts of a nationwide committee that brings together professionals from academic, medical, legal, ethical and social fields to discuss critical issues. From the beginning, the committee engaged in proactive and forward thinking. Rhead explained, for example, that we now know five to ten percent of cancer is genetic. Even in cases where three previous generations had early breast cancer, only in a few cases is there a detectible gene mutation. Health professionals have an obligation to disclose information to all at high risk but, in his opinion, we should not let genetic research become sidetracked by furor over a few prominent cases.