The Deceptive Appeal of Direct-to-Consumer Genetics
Authors: Suzanne M. Mahon
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2016)

Letters1 November 2016The Deceptive Appeal of Direct-to-Consumer GeneticsSuzanne M. Mahon, RN, DNSc, AOCN, APNGSuzanne M. Mahon, RN, DNSc, AOCN, APNGFrom Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L16-0333 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:I read Burke and Trinidad's editorial (1) with interest. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing is appealing despite policy statements from professional organizations warning that it should never be done without input from a primary care provider (PCP) and, ideally, a credentialed genetics professional (CGP) (2). This testing offers the consumer personal autonomy, but consumers must be educated that it may be grossly incomplete or inappropriate (3).During the past year, 5 patients have been referred to my practice for evaluation of results of DTC genetic testing that revealed that they had 1 of the BRCA founder mutations in ...References1. Burke W, Trinidad SB. The deceptive appeal of direct-to-consumer genetics [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 2016;164:564-5. [PMID: 26925528]. doi:10.7326/M16-0257 LinkGoogle Scholar2. Skirton H, Goldsmith L, Jackson L, O'Connor A.. Direct to consumer genetic testing: a systematic review of position statements, policies and recommendations. Clin Genet. 2012;82:210-8. [PMID: 22372614] doi:10.1111/j.1399-0004.2012.01863.x CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Singleton A, Erby LH, Foisie KV, Kaphingst KA. Informed choice in direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTCGT) websites: a content analysis of benefits, risks, and limitations. J Genet Couns. 2012;21:433-9. [PMID: 22194036] doi:10.1007/s10897-011-9474-6 CrossrefMedlineGoogle 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. [PMID: 26928821]. doi:10.7326/M15-0995 LinkGoogle Scholar5. Dean M. Celebrity Health announcements and online health information seeking: an analysis of Angelina Jolie's preventative health decision. Health Commun. 2016;31:752-61. [PMID: 26574936] doi:10.1080/10410236.2014.995866 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri.Disclosures: Authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest. Forms can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L16-0333. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoThe Deceptive Appeal of Direct-to-Consumer Genetics Wylie Burke and Susan Brown Trinidad Metrics Cited byGenetic Testing: Challenges and Changes in Testing for Hereditary Cancer Syndromes 1 November 2016Volume 165, Issue 9Page: 675-676KeywordsCancer geneticsConflicts of interestDisclosureGenetic testingGeneticsGenomicsMutationPrimary care physiciansRisk managementSurgery ePublished: 1 November 2016 Issue Published: 1 November 2016 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2016 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...