Ethical, social and legal implications of genomics for primary care

Abstract

The technical advances of genomic medicine have been well described in recent years, in the medical as well as public media. The social aspects of these advances have significant implications for primary care. GPs have previously ‘done genomics’ simply by the act of taking a family history from a patient and interpreting that history as part of ordinary care. Even at the level of a family history, genomic practice inevitably involves people other than that patient, and from that fact all the social and moral complexities arise. The scientific progress in current genomic research is creating a sphere of knowledge and information that GPs will need to be increasingly familiar with now and in the future. These advances offer opportunities and challenges for the health of communities and the learning needs of all GPs [see Box 1].