Which duty is commonly discussed in the ethics of genetic testing?

• A. Mandatory genetic testing for all relatives
• B. Genetic testing should be restricted by consent
• C. Duties to warn family members when an inherited disorder is discovered
• D. Disregard for patient confidentiality in all cases

Answer: (C)

Duties to warn family members when an inherited disorder is discovered are commonly discussed because genetic information about one person often has implications for relatives. When a pathogenic variant is identified, relatives may be at meaningful risk and could benefit from testing, surveillance, or preventive steps. Ethically, clinicians must balance respecting patient confidentiality and autonomy with beneficence and non-maleficence toward family members who might be harmed by undetected risk. Because of these real-world implications for relatives, the duty to inform or facilitate disclosure to at-risk family members is a central topic in the ethics of genetic testing.

Other notions, such as mandating genetic testing for all relatives, clash with autonomy and practical feasibility, while insisting on testing without consent violates fundamental ethical norms. The idea of disregarding patient confidentiality in all cases is also inconsistent with professional ethics.