Postmortem disclosure of genetic information to family members: Active or passive?

Sarah N. Boers*, Johannes J M van Delden, Nine V. Knoers, Annelien L. Bredenoord

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalLiterature reviewpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Advances in next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) now make it possible, and affordable, to sequence the entire genome of an individual. Routine clinical application is on the horizon. There is a consensus that some subsets of genetic information should be disclosed to patients, but disclosure to their relatives is less consensual. This issue becomes especially salient after a patient's death, when permission can no longer be sought. There has however been little debate on postmortem disclosure. We identify and explain the arguments in favor of and against disclosure of genetic information to the relatives of a deceased patient. We conclude that there are valid reasons to communicate some subsets of genetic information to family members after death, and we propose a passive postmortem disclosure policy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)148-153
Number of pages6
JournalTrends in molecular medicine
Volume21
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2015

Keywords

  • Ethics
  • Family members
  • Genetic information
  • Next-generation sequencing
  • Postmortem disclosure
  • DECEASED RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS
  • AT-RISK RELATIVES
  • WHOLE-GENOME
  • CLINICAL-PRACTICE
  • CHALLENGES
  • DUTY
  • RETURN
  • LEGAL
  • WARN
  • COMMUNICATION

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