Pharmacogenomics, ethics and the community

There are many who consider that the
greatest impact of genetics on health
care will come from
pharmacogenomics. As discussed in the
November Australian Pharmacist
(22;11:852-3), pharmacogenomics
interrogates the influence of genes on drug
response and, arguably, has the potential to
yield personalised medicines – ‘the right
medicine, for the right patient, at the right
dose’. It is widely recognised that there are
significant issues associated with
pharmacogenomics and its translation into
clinical practice and, hence, into the
community. Some uphold the view that the
true challenge of the new medical genetics
lies in determining how to pay for it.
Others consider that pharmacogenomics is a
sleeping giant, ethically speaking, which
compels us to address the ethical issues
prospectively and not, as is more usual,
retrospectively.