Title |
Should Genetic Testing for Variants Associated with Influenza Infection Be Mandatory for Health Care Employees?
|
---|---|
Published in |
The AMA Journal of Ethic, September 2018
|
DOI | 10.1001/amajethics.2018.819 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Michelle Huckaby Lewis |
Abstract |
Scientists are beginning to understand more about the role of host genetics in individuals' responses to influenza virus exposure. This fictional case addresses a situation in which a health care organization proposes requiring all health care practitioners with direct patient care responsibilities to undergo mandatory genetic testing for genetic variants used to (1) predict individuals' responses to the influenza vaccine, (2) determine individual susceptibility to influenza infection, and (3) identify individuals at increased risk for severe disease. This commentary will discuss ethical and legal issues associated with use of genetic test results to determine employee work assignments during an influenza pandemic. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 8 | 42% |
Mexico | 1 | 5% |
Spain | 1 | 5% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 5% |
Unknown | 8 | 42% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 10 | 53% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 6 | 32% |
Scientists | 2 | 11% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | 5% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 19 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Bachelor | 3 | 16% |
Researcher | 3 | 16% |
Librarian | 2 | 11% |
Other | 2 | 11% |
Student > Postgraduate | 2 | 11% |
Other | 2 | 11% |
Unknown | 5 | 26% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 6 | 32% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 5 | 26% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 2 | 11% |
Business, Management and Accounting | 1 | 5% |
Unknown | 5 | 26% |