The Deceptive Appeal of Direct-to-Consumer Genetics
Authors: Wylie Burke, Susan Brown Trinidad
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2016)

Editorials19 April 2016The Deceptive Appeal of Direct-to-Consumer GeneticsWylie Burke, MD, PhD and Susan Brown Trinidad, MAWylie Burke, MD, PhDFrom University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. and Susan Brown Trinidad, MAFrom University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M16-0257 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Riding the wave of the Human Genome Project, several companies now offer direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing. Their marketing messages are built on the rhetoric of leading scientists: A person's genome is an "instruction book" (1), and deciphering it can contribute to the transformation of medicine from a reactive to a proactive science (2), in which genetic risk information informs disease prevention (1, 3). This intuitively appealing and seemingly logical claim is bolstered by a vision of genetic information as more accurate, cutting-edge, and meaningful than other kinds of health information.According to the study reported by van der Wouden and ...References1. Collins FS. Shattuck lecture—medical and societal consequences of the Human Genome Project. N Engl J Med. 1999;341:28-37. [PMID: 10387940] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Weston AD, Hood L. Systems biology, proteomics, and the future of health care: toward predictive, preventative, and personalized medicine. J Proteome Res. 2004;3:179-96. [PMID: 15113093] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. McBride CM. Blazing a trail: a public health research agenda in genomics and chronic disease [Editorial]. Prev Chronic Dis. 2005;2:A04. [PMID: 15888215] MedlineGoogle Scholar4. van der Wouden CH, Carere DA, Maitland-van der Zee AH, Ruffin MT, Roberts JS, Green RC; Impact of Personal Genomics Study Group. Consumer perceptions of interactions with primary care providers after direct-to-consumer personal genomic testing. Ann Intern Med. 2016;164:513-22. doi:10.7326/M15-0995 LinkGoogle Scholar5. Annas GJ, Elias S. 23andMe and the FDA. N Engl J Med. 2014;370:985-8. [PMID: 24520936] doi:10.1056/NEJMp1316367 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Mezher M. FDA warns three companies over DTC genetic tests. Rockville, MD: Regulatory Affairs Professional Society; 9 November 2015. Accessed at www.raps.org/Regulatory-Focus/News/2015/11/09/23563/FDA-Warns-Three-Companies-Over-DTC-Genetic-Tests on 15 February 2016. Google Scholar7. Ladabaum U, Ford JM, Martel M, Barkun AN. American Gastroenterological Association technical review on the diagnosis and management of Lynch syndrome. Gastroenterology. 2015;149:783-813. [PMID: 26226576] doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2015.07.037 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. Austin J. The effect of genetic test-based risk information on behavioral outcomes: a critical examination of failed trials and a call to action. Am J Med Genet A. 2015;167:2913-5. [PMID: 26284465] doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.37289 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. Langenberg C, Sharp SJ, Franks PW, Scott RA, Deloukas P, Forouhi NG, et al. Gene-lifestyle interaction and type 2 diabetes: the EPIC interact case-cohort study. PLoS Med. 2014;11:e1001647. [PMID: 24845081] doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001647 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. Caulfield T. That personal touch [Letter]. Hastings Cent Rep. 2011;41:4. [PMID: 21678800] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.Disclosures: Authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest. Forms can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M16-0257.Corresponding Author: Wylie Burke, MD, PhD, Department of Bioethics and Humanities, University of Washington, Box 357120, 1959 Northeast Pacific, Seattle, WA 98195; e-mail, [email protected]washington.edu.Current Author Addresses: Dr. Burke and Ms. Trinidad: Department of Bioethics and Humanities, University of Washington, Box 357120, 1959 Northeast Pacific, Seattle, WA 98195.This article was published at www.annals.org on 1 March 2016. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoConsumer Perceptions of Interactions With Primary Care Providers After Direct-to-Consumer Personal Genomic Testing Cathelijne H. van der Wouden , Deanna Alexis Carere , Anke H. Maitland-van der Zee , Mack T. Ruffin IV , J. Scott Roberts , Robert C. Green , and The Deceptive Appeal of Direct-to-Consumer Genetics Suzanne M. Mahon Metrics Cited byComparing models of delivery for cancer genetics services among patients receiving primary care who meet criteria for genetic evaluation in two healthcare systems: BRIDGE randomized controlled trialUncertainty in Genomics Impacts Precision MedicineImpact of numeracy preferences on information needs for genome sequencing resultsDirect‐to‐consumer genetic testing companies tell their customers to 'see a genetic counselor'. How do genetic counselors feel about direct‐to‐consumer genetic testing?Cascading After Peridiagnostic Cancer Genetic Testing: An Alternative to Population-Based ScreeningGenes and Diet in the Prevention of Chronic Diseases in Future GenerationsRe-Examining Genetic Screening and Oral Contraceptives: A Patient-Centered ReviewPrecision Medicine in RhinosinusitisGenetic Predisposition, Clinical Risk Factor Burden, and Lifetime Risk of Atrial FibrillationDirect-to-Consumer Genetic Testing: Helping Patients Make Informed Choices Genetic Testing: Challenges and Changes in Testing for Hereditary Cancer Syndromes Current ethical and legal issues in health-related direct-to-consumer genetic testingA Brief History of Uncertainty in Medical Genetics and GenomicsThe Deceptive Appeal of Direct-to-Consumer GeneticsSuzanne M. Mahon, RN, DNSc, AOCN, APNG 19 April 2016Volume 164, Issue 8Page: 564-565KeywordsCancer screeningCoronary heart diseaseFood and Drug AdministrationGenetic diseasesGenetic testingGeneticsHealth careHealth information technologyMotivationOverweight ePublished: 1 March 2016 Issue Published: 19 April 2016 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2016 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...