Three study cases of genetic couseling in Brasil

Abstract

Approaching technological applications as social-historical contextualized practices, and developed within certain institutions, we reflect on three cases of genetic counseling performed at the Human Genome and Stem-Cells Research Center. According to Mayana Zatz, chair professor in Genetics at Biosciences Institute of University of São Paulo, genetic counseling is capable of decrease risks of couples’ descendants affected by genetic diseases (ZATZ, 2000, p. 29). Beyond prevention, genetic counseling can raise incidental information, such as false paternity or incestuous relations. The tension derived from incidental information involves a complex set of values endorsed by institutional representatives, as well as by patients and kin. Therefore, decisions related to reveling or not incidental information, require values articulation mainly focused on maintenance (or not) of medical confidentiality, and aiming to cause the least damage possible to patients and families. Therefore, along with medical confidentiality, other social values are involved in controversial situations, such as the individual intimacy, family, and children and adolescent protections. To contextualize the three study cases approached, we will refer, among others laws, to the Brazilian Federal Constitution of 1988, the Code of Medical Ethics and the Statute of Children and Adolescents, in order to base our analysis on highly estimated social values in Brazil.