Captious certainties makings meanings and misrea

Authors: Norbert W Paul Mita Banerjee Susanne Michl

Publish Date: 2013/11/08

Volume: 5, Issue: 1, Pages: 81-87

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Abstract

Members of the scientific and medical communities concerned with genetic testing might wonder why cultural and ethical analyses of genetic testing are increasing again especially since legal frameworks have by now come to provide more solid grounds for the routine application of genetic testing on both levels of application diagnostics and prediction This contribution aims to shed light on the changing concept of genetic testing as it is raised by novel cultural practices and perceptions mainly triggered by directtoconsumer predictive testing including the phenomenon of a new genetic exceptionalism “from below” We are seeking to determine what is at stake in this practice and what consequences arise from it for the medical and scientific community What exactly happens as we move from diagnostic to prognostic medicine Above all this article pivots on the notion of captious certainties a concept which we will elaborate on as our argument progresses

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