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Genetic Moralism and Health

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 May 2019

TUIJA TAKALA
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Abstract:

This article examines the moralistic language and arguments used in relation to genetics. The focus is on three practices: (1) the claims that there is a duty to know about one’s own genetic makeup, (2) assertions that genetic information should be used to inform reproductive decisions, and (3) the proposition that there are moral reasons to participate in biobank research. With these three, the author contends that there are equally good, if not better, arguments to challenge them from a Millian perspective. Furthermore, especially in the current political climate, there is a need to respect people’s privacy concerns.

Keywords

moralismgeneticsgenetic informationreproductionbiobanksinformed consent
Type
Special Section: Health, Morality, and Moralism
Information
Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics , Volume 28 , Issue 2 , April 2019 , pp. 225 - 235
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019 

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Footnotes

The author thanks the Academy of Finland (project SA 307467) and the Finnish Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry (project MMM 248774) for their financial support.

References

Notes

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