Article Text
Abstract
Recently, several genetic variants have been associated with increased or decreased risks of becoming infected and/or seriously ill with COVID-19—not only offering important potential medical benefits but also posing critical ethical questions. These genetic factors, some of which are associated with blood type, may account for variations in observed responses to COVID-19. Hence, assessments of these genetic differences and blood type could provide possible benefits in gauging patients’ risks of disease acquisition and prioritising allocation of interventions or vaccines, if supplies are limited. The media has widely reported these findings, and people online are now discussing their blood type and its possible effects on their COVID-19 risks, but several ethical concerns arise. Individuals possessing genetic variants or blood types associated with lower risk may engage in ‘risk compensation’, erroneously assuming that they can protect themselves less, and hence less frequently wearing masks or washing hands. Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many physicians, hospitals, patients, policymakers, members of the public, testing companies and others may well consider these factors in making critical prevention/treatment decisions. Researchers, providers and others should thus begin to address these concerns. Increased awareness and education aimed at providers, patients, family members, public health officials, political leaders and the public-at-large are critical. Attitudinal research is vital to examine how providers, patients and the public understand these findings. Ethical frameworks and guidelines are needed, addressing whether such genetic information should be incorporated into decisions regarding allocation of scarce resources—including hospital and ICU beds, ventilators, medications (eg, remdesivir) and vaccines—and if so, how.
- genethics
- ethics
- public policy
- decision-making
- public health ethics
This article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ’s website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.
https://bmj.com/coronavirus/usageStatistics from Altmetric.com
Footnotes
Twitter @RobertKlitzman
Funding Funding for this research provided by the National Human Genome Research Institute (# 5RM1HG007257-08).
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent for publication Not required.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Data availability statement No data are available.
Read the full text or download the PDF:
Other content recommended for you
- Best Evidence Topic report: does blood group type O decrease the risk of severe COVID-19 infection?
- Genome-wide association study identifies seven novel loci associating with circulating cytokines and cell adhesion molecules in Finns
- ABO blood groups and liver cancer: prospective results from an HBsAg cohort study
- Ethics of genetic testing and research in sport: a position statement from the Australian Institute of Sport
- Genetic Factors Impacting Therapy in Acute Lung Injury/Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
- Balancing autonomy and responsibility: the ethics of generating and disclosing genetic information
- Genetics and public health—evolution, or revolution?
- Implementation of serological and molecular tools to inform COVID-19 patient management: protocol for the GENCOV prospective cohort study
- Impact of blood group on survival following critical illness: a single-centre retrospective observational study
- The routinisation of genomics and genetics: implications for ethical practices