All articles tagged with #genetic counseling
The Tennessee Legislature has passed a bill to ban marriage between first cousins, with a vocal opponent arguing for an amendment to allow such marriages with genetic counseling. The bill's sponsor emphasized that it does not violate the U.S. Supreme Court's gay marriage decision, and the legislation ultimately passed without the proposed amendment.
Tennessee's General Assembly passed a bill banning marriage between first cousins, drawing support from most Republicans but facing opposition from some. Republican Rep. Gino Bulso argued in favor of an amendment to protect cousin marriage if couples see a genetic counselor, citing a 1.7% to 2.8% increased risk of birth defects. He also claimed the ban would violate the Supreme Court case Obergefell v Hodges, which legalized gay marriage. House Republican leadership dismissed his argument as an attempt to show the irony between the bill and the Obergefell ruling, as the bill would also outlaw LGBTQ+ marriages between first cousins.
Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic recommend taking advantage of holiday gatherings to discuss and understand your family's medical history, as it can provide valuable information for prevention and treatment. If there is a family history of health problems, genetic counseling and testing may be considered to further assess potential medical concerns and provide guidance.
Individuals who carry a gene mutation for ALS, a fatal neurodegenerative disease, but have not yet developed symptoms, are grappling with the uncertainty of their future. Genetic counseling plays a crucial role in informing them about their likelihood of developing the disease, but the question arises as to what medical research owes these individuals in terms of potential treatments or interventions.
Primary care physicians are playing a crucial role in the new era of gene therapy, as they are often the first to diagnose and deliver news of genetic diseases to patients. With the approval of numerous gene therapies for rare and debilitating diseases, primary care doctors will be responsible for monitoring patients' safety, managing side effects, and coordinating care with subspecialists. However, the lack of time and support for doctors in this field remains a challenge. As gene therapy becomes more prevalent, primary care physicians will need to be equipped with the knowledge and resources to interpret genetic test results and provide counseling to patients. The expansion of gene therapy also raises concerns about the overwhelming learning curve for primary care doctors and the need for additional support, such as artificial intelligence tools, to assist in patient care.