Bioethics and the Law in Familial Cancer, a Practical Approach英文文献资料.docVIP

Open Journal of Pathology, 2012, 2, 42-44 Published Online April 2012 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/ojpathology) /10.4236/ojpathology.2012.22009 Bioethics and the Law in Familial Cancer, a Practical Approach Azua-Romeo Javier Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. Email: javierazua@ Received December 27 , 2011; revised January 31 , 2012; accepted February 24 , 2012 th st th ABSTRACT Hereditary cancers are the result of germline mutations in specific genes that increase susceptibility to cancer. This sus- ceptibility is spread among family members according to different patterns of inheritance. Inherited susceptibility to cancer, does not imply the certainty of developing it in all cases. In this sense many questions have come out in recent years, not only in the medical sense but also in the field of bioethics and the law. Keywords: Cancer; Hereditary; Ethics; Law 1. Clinical Issues Related to Familial Cancer 1.1. Main Characteristics of Familial Cancer cancer requires genetic counselling specialists who will evaluate individual risk for each family member, and appropriate genetic determinations. Through genetic counselling, patients with hereditary predisposition to cancer receive information on: 1) the probability of ma- lignancy, 2) the probability of transmitting to their off- spring’s predisposition to cancer and the likelihood of states to develop malignancies, and 3) prognosis, strate- gies for early detection and more appropriate therapeutic approach. Psychological support seems very interesting previous to the establishment of therapeutic/preventive measures. The specific genetic testing is not possible in all cases, as there are entities in which we not even know the gene responsible. The patient should be informed whi