Blurring lines. The research activities of direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies raise questions about consumers as research subjects

Heidi C Howard; Bartha Maria Knoppers; Pascal Borry

doi:10.1038/embor.2010.105

Blurring lines. The research activities of direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies raise questions about consumers as research subjects

EMBO Rep. 2010 Aug;11(8):579-82. doi: 10.1038/embor.2010.105. Epub 2010 Jul 16.

Authors

Heidi C Howard¹, Bartha Maria Knoppers, Pascal Borry

Affiliation

¹ Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. heidi.howard@med.kuleuven.be

Abstract

Companies that offer direct-to-consumer genetic testing and conduct research are blurring the line between customers and research subjects. Should these companies adhere to the same ethical regulations as academic researchers?

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Genetic Privacy*
Genetic Testing* / economics
Genetic Testing* / ethics
Humans
Marketing
Research Subjects*
Research* / economics