Disclosing Preliminary Results to Research Subjects

Author(s)
Eric Juengst
Parent Collection
Scenarios for Ethics Modules in the Responsible Conduct of Research
Contributors
Caroline Whitbeck
Publisher
National Academy of Engineering
Year
2000
DOI
https://doi.org/10.18130/dqxf-bs95
Rights
Use of Materials on the OEC
Discipline(s)
Research Ethics
Genetics and Genomics
Life and Environmental Sciences
Topics
Confidentiality
Human Subjects Research
Data Management
Informed Consent
Case Study / Scenario
Description

A scenario meant to stimulate discussion about when, if ever, information gained from studying a family's genes should be disclosed to the family.

Body

During a family linkage study in search of a genetic mutation conferring increased risk for breast cancer, one woman subject approaches you and announces that she can no longer endure the uncertainty involved in living with the family's unusually high rate of fatal breast cancer. She has decided to undergo double prophylatic mastectomy, but wants to know what the research team can tell her about her genetic risk status.

Your team has in fact identified some genetic markers that seem to travel through the family with the (still unknown) mutation, but are far from satisfied that the linkage between the markers and the mutation is reliable enough to use for clinical purposes. According to your preliminary analysis using these markers, however, this subject does not appear to carry the family's high risk conferring mutation.

How should you respond to this subject's request for information?

Notes

Caroline Whitbeck introduced methods and modules for discussing numerous issues in responsible conduct of research at a Sigma Xi Forum in 2000. Partial funding for the development of this material came from an NIH grant.

You can find the entire sequence on the OEC at Scenarios for Ethics Modules in the Responsible Conduct of Research. Some information in these historical modules may be out-of-date; for instance, there may be a new edition of the professional society's code that is referred to in an item. If you have suggestions for updates, please contact the OEC.

Citation
Eric Juengst. . Disclosing Preliminary Results to Research Subjects. Online Ethics Center. DOI:https://doi.org/10.18130/dqxf-bs95. https://onlineethics.org/cases/scenarios-ethics-modules-responsible-conduct-research/disclosing-preliminary-results-research.