Genetic Testing Case Study Essay

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1. The mentioned characters in this real-life scenario are Suzanne, Karen, Karen's two children, the father, and Suzanne's husband, David. There is no present information about Karen's two offspring, except the known fact that there is the 50% chance that they can inherit the gene mutation. There also is no descriptive information about David's health or any traits, except the known fact that he is worried about his wife. Karen, at 38-years-old, was diagnosed with early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease (EOFAD) due to a relatively rare gene mutation called APP. She started experiencing symptoms in her late 30s, such as progressive memory loss, confusion, poor judgment, and language problems. As a result, Karen does not have the ability to …show more content…
Genetic testing is a medical-based test that uses laboratory methods to examine DNA from extracted blood and other tissue to identify changes in genes (6, 7, 8, and 9). These tests allow health professionals to rule out various genetic conditions, determine whether a disorder will be passed on to future children, and choose proper treatments for the illness (6, 7). But, before genetic testing, the person or family should speak with a doctor or genetic counselor to get information about the pros and cons of testing and find out if the insurance carrier will cover the process without complications (8, 9, and 10). So, with this in mind, it is important to note that the person who is doing the test may have to pay out-of-pocket for the examination, depending on the circumstances (7, 11). But, the health insurance carrier usually pays for the genetic testing if the test is accurate, reliable, and beneficial to the individual in finding a treatment for the disease (11). Most insurance companies are not that willing to pay the cost for individual gene testing, especially which detect a gene mutation that raises the risk of getting the inherited disorder (12, 13). However, if the insurance carrier willingly pays for the test, the insurance company would have access to the results under informed consent, as well as the person or family members who provided the sample (14). With that, the individual or family can discuss the results with the doctor or genetic counsel (14). But, there is no distinction of actual ownership of biological property

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