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Direct-to-consumer misleading information on cancer risks calls for an urgent clarification of health genetic testing performed by commercial companies.

Authors :
de Pauw A
Schwartz M
Colas C
Golmard L
Stoppa-Lyonnet D
Source :
European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990) [Eur J Cancer] 2020 Jun; Vol. 132, pp. 100-103. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Apr 23.
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) commercial companies offer genetic tests that are presented as allowing individuals the opportunity to increase their capacities to be in charge of their own healthcare managements. DTC companies deny performing medical tests, yet they provide data based on sequencing multigene panel or whole exome. This contradiction allows these companies to escape the requirements of a regulated medical practice that guarantees the quality of the tests, as well as the information and support for tested individuals. Herein, we illustrate the lack of such requirements by analysing the bad experience of a young man who dealt with DTC health genetic testing companies. There is an emergency for DTC testing to be either deprived of any medically relevant information, or carried out in a legally regulated medical framework.<br />Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.<br /> (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1879-0852
Volume :
132
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990)
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
32335476
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2020.03.007