Rights and responsibilities in the new genetics era

This article critically explores the distribution of rights and responsibilities associated with recent developments in genetic testing and DNA donation. The author identifies two key discourses in various accounts of genetics in the clinical and policy domains: patients' rights to informed choice and the public's right to involvement in policy decisions. However, other discourses among professionals, patients and members of the public around responsibilities for supporting genetic research and testing and managing their social implications are also present. The author goes on to argue that these discourses undermine the case for a dramatic difference between past eugenics and present genetics, as the prevention of genetic disease remains of paramount importance. This suggests that `new genetic citizenship' is not so new after all