Genetic profiling of newborns: ethical and social issues

Abstract

Identifying genetic factors that could reliably predict health risks for individuals has the potential to bring great health benefits, both for the individuals concerned and for health-care providers. Genetic profiling at birth would allow a person's genome to be analysed at an early stage, and the data electronically stored for future use. However, although this might seem like an attractive proposition, it carries with it serious ethical and social concerns that would need to be addressed if the genetic profiling of newborns were ever to be considered on a population-wide basis.