Question

Abby is a 33-year old, married Roman Catholic woman who has received successful treatment for melanoma. While at the cancer center, she gave her consent to use her tissue samples in a research protocol in which researchers scrutinized chromosomes most frequently involved in rearrangements of melanoma cells. While visually inspecting Abby’s tissue sample, a researcher discovered a translocation or mutation between two other chromosomes. The mutated chromosomes were not among those the researcher had specific authorization to examine, in accord with the informed consent form Abby had signed.

According to the researcher’s description of the situation, the aberration is not directly responsible for the initiation of melanoma. Whether the aberration is a factor in promoting tumor growth or tumor metastasis remains a question. However, with such a genetic abnormality, Abby, if she became pregnant, has a 50% chance of spontaneous miscarriage, a 25% chance of delivering a severely deformed child, and a 25% chance of a healthy child. Moreover, her viable offspring risk carrying the same abnormality.

Unsure whether to tell Abby about these findings, the researcher contacts Abby’s primary oncologist (who has a longstanding relationship with her) as well as the Ethics Consultation Service.

2. The ethical guideline that most comprehensively supports informing Abby about the incidental finding is:

Group of answer choices

Researchers have a duty to try to prevent probable harms to research subjects, including in this case the harm of miscarriage or serious birth defects.

The right of an individual to self-determination or autonomy in health care generates an obligation among health professionals to communicate information to that individual that may be relevant to making medical decisions.

The principle of justice holds that it would be unfair not to enable the research subject to decide for herself how to handle the genetic information.

Researchers are obligated to disclose information learned about the subjects who agree to participate in their research.

Answer 1

The principle of justice holds that it would be unfair not to enable the research subject to decide for herself how to handle the genetic information.

what ever the medical condition is its adviced to have discussion with The client or the clients family because human rights are more important and must be preserved every human have their own right and here the patient has right to decide regarding her health condition considering the human rights inform the client and the consequences and let the client to make decision regarding her condition.

The researchers found that there is 50% chance of miscarriage and this must be clearly inform to the client and proper counselling must be given the final call must be always