Genetic Counseling

GENETIC COUNSELING: 1.

Professional counseling about the gravity, consequences and available alternatives in dealing with the appearances of a hereditary disorder. Consists in instructing parents about the risks involved in conceiving a baby. Parents are adequately informed so that they can serenely and prudently decide about whether procreation is advisable or not. When conception has taken place, counseling will help them in the diagnosis and treatment of foreseeable genetic disorders.

2.

A process of communication that attempts to deal with the human problems associated with the occurrence, or risk of occurrence, of a genetic disorder in an individual or family. This involves an attempt by one or more appropriately trained persons to help an individual, couple, or family: a) To comprehend the medical facts, such as the risk of occurrence or recurrence of a disorder, the possibilities for diagnosis, the probable course of the disorder, and the available therapies; b)To appreciate the ways in which hereditary and environmental factors contribute to the disorder and the extent to which specified relatives are at risk for being affected or for producing an affected child;

c) To understand the medically and ethically acceptable options for dealing with a positive diagnosis, as well as the reasons why other options are medically and/or ethically unacceptable; d)To choose the course of action that seems appropriate to the clients in view of their own values and goals and to act in accordance with their decisions; and e) To make the best possible adjustment to the disorder in an affected member of the family or to the risk of a recurrence of the disorder. Function of the genetic counselor: To help prospective parents prepare themselves for the possibility that a fetus will be defective and to plan ways to provide for this eventuality; and help them decide whether they will or will not have children. Problems also arise with regard to counseling adults who have a genetic defect that will eventually become a serious handicap or lead to early death. Nevertheless, we would argue that individuals who seriously suspect they have such serious defects would be wise to have the matter settled by a reliable test and to adjust their life plans accordingly.

Couples have the duty of Responsible parenthood, and society has a legitimate concern to support and encourage this responsibility. The genetic counselor therefore has the function of helping prospective parents prepare themselves for the possibility that a fetus will be defective and to plan ways to provide for this eventuality. The counselor also has the task of helping them decide whether they will or will not have children.