Genetics from Laboratory to Society Societal Learning as an Alternative to Regulation

By tracing the work of medical professionals, but also clients, their family-members, insurance companies, employers, unions and government involved, the book shows how due to the introduction of genetic testing responsibilities are redistributed.Recent decades have seen rapid developments in, and increasing deployment of, genetic tests. Testing not only affects diagnosis and treatment of disease, but also has important repercussions for our lifestyles, the extent to which we will be held responsible for our individual health, and for social solidarity. Society still has to learn how to cope with the new technologies that are becoming available."Genetics from Laboratory to Society details practices of genetic testing and discusses its future role for insurance and the workplace. By tracing the work of medical professionals, but also their clients, family members, insurance companies, employers, unions and government, and by emphasizing a pragmatic approach focusing on processes of societal learning the contributors offer a fresh look at the ethical and political questions we have to deal with in relation to the expanding role of genetic information in society."--BOOK JACKET.