Recontacting patients when new genomic findings come to light Event

Event details

Advances in genetic and genomic medicine, their reduced cost, and greater integration into medical practice – i.e. the mainstreaming of genomics – are generating new information about predispositions, diagnosis and treatment of some health conditions. As more evidence is accrued, an increasingly important question arises about if and when patients seen in the past should be recontacted to update them on these changes in technology and interpretation. Where new genetic/genomic information could have significant implications for the health of patients and their relatives, their reproductive and lifestyle choices, employment, and psychosocial wellbeing, there is a clear benefit to recontacting them. However, how strong does new evidence have to be, how likely a diagnosis will be achieved, or how well a predisposition can be treated are important factors in any recontact policy.