Work

Should Genetic Testing for Variants Associated with Influenza Infection Be Mandatory for Health Care Employees?

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Scientists are beginning to understand more about the role of host genetics in individuals' responses to influenza virus exposure. This fictional case addresses a situation in which a health care organization proposes requiring all health care practitioners with direct patient care responsibilities to undergo mandatory genetic testing for genetic variants used to (1) predict individuals' responses to the influenza vaccine, (2) determine individual susceptibility to influenza infection, and (3) identify individuals at increased risk for severe disease. This commentary will discuss ethical and legal issues associated with use of genetic test results to determine employee work assignments during an influenza pandemic.

Source: The AMA Journal of Ethic

DOI: 10.1001/amajethics.2018.819

Author: Michelle Huckaby Lewis

Institutions: Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics

Language: English

Topic: Medical and Health Sciences Research

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: National Human Genome Research Institute