ETHICS CASES
Genetic Profiling of Medical Students
Commentary by John Mahoney, MD
Dr. Shepherd is a medical school professor charged with incorporating pharmacogenomics and genetic testing into her medical genetics curriculum for first-year students. To personalize the experience, she partners with a direct-to-consumer genetics testing company, for which she has consulted, to develop a modified and discounted genome test that examines four genotypes for nondisease states, including genes involved in the metabolism of certain macronutrients, medications, and alcohol. With approval from the medical school administration, the cost of the test is rolled into each student’s tuition and notices are sent to all incoming medical students informing them of the study and requesting their informed consent. Once consent forms are received, the testing organization will solicit the specimens. The deidentified reports will be filed with the medical school’s genetics department and made available to the participating students for reference and discussion during their medical genetics course.