History and Past Activities
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History and Past Activities |
Sven Hemlin
Gotenberg University, Sweden
Pharmacogenetics; what it is and what some of its effects could turn out to be
This paper discusses potential ethical and social effects on individuals, health care and society of pharmacogenetics (PGx). Theoretically it draws on ethical principles and a social consequence approach. The scientific field PGx is devoted to the study of how genetic variation affects our response to medicines, but also how medicines affect our bodies. It has been argued that negative effects of medicines is related to great costs by causing deaths, illnesses and absence from work costs. Moreover, according to some medical researchers only between 20-60% (dependent of therapy field) of medical drug treatment is effective. This calls for a more individualized treatment by using genetic screening of patients, it is argued by some. In this way prescriptions of drugs could be tailored to individuals or groups of individuals depending on their genetic makeup. PGx applications could then reduce deaths, sufferings and general bad medical treatment as well as be cost effective, it is claimed. These arguments make a strong case for pharmacogenetic research and technology. However, they are not indisputable. The arguments pro PGx are scrutinized and a number of negative effects on individual health care and on public health care approaches are analysed.
Sociology of Science and Technology NETwork - last update: April 2006