Genetics and ethics – past, present, and future

Overview

Presented is a review of the ethical aspects of medical genetics since the 1980s in the conditions of the Czech Republic as compared to trends worldwide along with a description of the present situation. The international aspect is represented by two vast multi-center studies from the 1980s and 1990s, while the cardinal problems are worked out also from the point of view of Czech geneticists. Key problems of genetic testing are dealt with on the model of Huntington’s disease in which the carrying out of predictive testing is regulated by ethical standards. Future perspectives are indicated with the necessity of a normative adjustment and legislative embodiment as a prevention of any potential misuse and genetic discrimination.

Key words:
genetic couselling – genetic testing – ethics – Huntington’s disease.