O impacto dos biomarcadores moleculares na relação médico-paciente

Abstract

The evolution of diagnostic techniques and use of genetic biomarkers in the post- genomic era has brought great advances in medicine, especially regarding the early detection of diseases, discovery of the genetic etiology of degenerative and neoplastic illness and the emergence of predictive diagnosis. Although all these developments also generated a negative impact on society, affecting interpersonal relationships and generating new concerns, as there are situations still lacking regulations. These new ethical conflicts are increasingly complex shake the doctor-patient and familial relationship. In addition to problems such as what to do with the secondary findings , consequences caused by the preimplantational genetic diagnosis and the real risk of a society that may become eugenic, the great dilemma faced today, which includes the genetic biomarkers as a whole and involves the confidentiality of information and the possibility to benefit the family of the patient, often puts physician in a dichotomy between breaking the medical secrecy to benefit a third party or keep it and follow one of the most important ethical principles of the profession. Thus, this work deals with the ethical and legal aspects of genetic biomarker, advocating for change of the paradigm of genetic information from individual to familial.