Tag: UK
Blog Posts (3)
April 19, 2010
Could There EVER Be An Okay Way to Pay for Body Parts?
The Nuffield Council is really scratching its head on that one–is money the only way to get people to give up parts of their bodies?…
August 24, 2008
The Face Trust Coming to the UK
In an article published in the Times Online from London, Peter Butler, MD argues that a better quality life made possible through face transplantation outweighs the risks of failure and rejection and possible life shortening that may occur from taking anti-rejection drugs.…
March 28, 2008
The UK's debate over, well, almost everything
The UK has been involved in a rather intense political discussion about making changes to the country’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority bill.…
News (1)
June 8, 2012 11:30 am
UK Users’ and Genetics Clinicians’ experiences of direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTCGT) (Genomes Unzipped)
Direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTCGT) has been freely available on the Internet for more than five years, despite concerns from the professional community. Companies marketing these tests (such as 23andMe and deCODEme) claim they are empowering people to make healthy lifestyle choices, and frequently draw on the principle of autonomy as a central argument. This position is confirmed elsewhere by those who view genomic knowledge as an individual right, including many of the bloggers at Genomes Unzipped. Other scientists and clinicians express skepticism about the clinical validity and utility of DTCGT, and raise concerns about the potential for anxiety and inappropriate testing. The UK, with its large state-run National Health Service and relative lack of private health insurance and providers, is likely to face unique challenges and situations as DTCGT becomes more common.