Reilly Philip R, Debusk Ruth M
Interleukin Genetics Inc, Waltham, MA 02452, USA.
J Am Diet Assoc. 2008 Jan;108(1):36-40. doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2007.10.016.
Advances in the ability to study how common variations in genes affect the metabolism of drugs and foods suggest that genetic information about individuals is of increasing relevance to clinical practitioners, including registered dietitians. The acquisition, storage, and use of genetic information in nutrition counseling will pose difficult ethical and legal questions involving the maintenance of confidentiality, the right to privacy, and the risks of discrimination in decisions about insurance coverage and employment. In addition, genetic analysis of children poses new questions about the limits of parental authority. Although the field of nutritional genomics is in its infancy, it is appropriate for registered dietitians to begin now to fashion a code of conduct about the proper use of genetic information. Relevant legal topics, such as federal and state legislation and judicial decisions, are discussed.
研究基因常见变异如何影响药物和食物代谢能力的进展表明，个体的基因信息对包括注册营养师在内的临床从业者越来越重要。在营养咨询中获取、存储和使用基因信息将引发棘手的伦理和法律问题，涉及保密、隐私权以及保险覆盖范围和就业决策中的歧视风险。此外，对儿童进行基因分析引发了关于父母权威界限的新问题。尽管营养基因组学领域尚处于起步阶段，但注册营养师现在就开始制定关于正确使用基因信息的行为准则是合适的。文中还讨论了相关法律主题，如联邦和州立法以及司法判决。
