‘Medicine’s Next Goldmine?’ The Implications of New Genetic Health Technologies for the Health Service

Abstract

There is considerable uncertainty about the implications of the new genetics for health services. These are the enthusiasts who argue that molecular genetics will transform health care and others argue that the scope for genetic interventions is limited. The aim of this paper is to examine some of the questions, tensions and difficulties which face health care providers particularly in developed countries as they try to come to terms with the dilemmas raised by new genetic health care technologies (NGHTs). It identifies questions for research which may help the development of robust and flexible strategies for implementation.

Decision-Making and Ante-Natal Screening for Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Disorders

“…Understanding this is fundamental in facilitating successful policy and practice, particularly since it reminds us about the importance of avoiding essentialised accounts of religious identity 32 that are devoid of context and allow no room for individual interpretation. This has particular resonance in the development of the 'new genetics' (see Calnan et al, 2006) within a multicultural society (Atkin, 2003). Making sense of this requires public policy 'to recognize a wider range of cultural identities than it does at present' (The Parekh Report, 2000, p242).…”

Genetics in Health Care: An Overview of Current and Emerging Models

“…With advances in genetic and genomic research and the development of new technologies, questions continue to be raised regarding the potential impact of genetics and genomics on the health care system [1,2,3]. Changes are already occurring in the provision of genetic services and the redefinition of professional roles [4,5,6,7,8], with a strong tendency to favour the integration of genetic medicine into other specialties [9] and into primary care [10,11,12,13,14,15].…”

Offering antenatal sickle cell and thalassaemia screening to pregnant women in primary care: a qualitative study of GPs' experiences

“…7 Barriers to implementation exist at many levels including the individual practitioner, the clinical team, the practice setting and the wider organisational context, in addition to patient preferences. 8,9 Implementation research has tended to focus on the role of individual healthcare practitioners 10 although even in a setting like general practice, where clinical autonomy is relatively strong, evidence suggests that practice can equally be a product of the social and organisational circumstances in which they occur.…”