Attitudes Medical, legal Groups and Families of Children With Thalassemia Towards Genetic Diagnosis: Implications for Legislation

Attitudes Medical, legal Groups and Families of Children With Thalassemia Towards Genetic Diagnosis: Implications for Legislation

The advancements in human genetics and the completion of human genome project have raised the possibility of genetic diagnosis. This technology raises many ethical, legal and moral issues. Attitudes of doctors, medical students, lawyers, Members of parliament (MPs) and parents of children with thalassemia towards genetic screening and testing were assessed in a in Pakistan. The acceptability of genetic diagnosis , abortion and premarital screening was high in medical community and parents of thalassemic and much lower in lawyers and MPs . any future legislation must take into account the views of those most affected by genetic diseases.