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From clinical genetics to genomic-based public health screening programmes: duty-based ethics as a guide for responsible implementation

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: A renewed focus on disease prevention has placed genomics firmly in the spotlight. Policymakers and health services across Europe are considering ways to facilitate disease prevention and early disease detection through population-level initiatives such as newborn genomic screening and polygenic risk scores. This commentary explores, through the lens of duty-based ethics, the ethical considerations in the design of genomic screening programmes. As genomic medicine becomes embedded in public health strategies, a robust ethical framework is essential to ensure that its promises are realised equitably and responsibly.

Source: European Journal of Human Genetics

DOI: 10.1038/s41431-026-02133-7

Authors: Helena Carley, Ingrid Slade