Policy development in many areas of genetics and health care is still unsettled because of the continuing growth of knowledge, technologies, and therapies. Policy by professional organizations, institutions, and opinion leaders about restricting access to genetic testing for children before disease symptoms appear seems not to have carefully considered the relationship between parents and their minor children. The author reviews background information regarding policies recommended by health care professionals for genetic presymptomatic and predisposition testing of children and the controversies surrounding professional versus parental views on the topic. After discussing each side of the issue, recommendations are presented for ways of listening to and taking into account parental motivations for testing their children.
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