Learning from the Work that Links Laboratory to Society

Abstract

The introduction of genetic testing raises major questions for society, as not only opponents but also proponents of the new techniques acknowledge. Most of these questions are fairly easy to formulate. Which tests are socially acceptable, or even desirable, and which ones have to be rejected? How will detailed knowledge of individual health risks affect the way we organize our lives and make choices in relation to work, diet and lifestyle? What about insurance? How does knowledge of genetic risks affect the way in which society perceives disease and disability? Should we expect a shift in the balance between, on the one hand, individual responsibility for health and, on the other hand, solidarity with those who are ill or disabled or who have a high chance of developing a serious disorder? And if the projected future is not of our liking, what can be done to steer developments in predictive medicine in another direction? Who is in a position to judge with authority on these matters, and who is in a position to take political initiatives if they are needed?