Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy 3/2022

16-04-2022 | Scientific Contribution

The principle of nondirectiveness in genetic counseling. Different meanings and various postulates of normative nature

Author: Weronika Chańska

Published in: Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy | Issue 3/2022

Login to get access

Abstract

The article aims at organizing multifaceted discourse on the concept of nondirectiveness in the practice of genetic counseling. The analysis of areas where nondirectiveness was invoked and discussed reveals the problematic confusion of different meanings of the term that often leads to false conclusions about the relations between the professional standards and the practice of genetic counseling. The article offers clear and comprehensive description of different approaches to nondirectiveness and various ideas associated with the term. Normative consequences of various meanings attributed to nondirectiveness are explored. The article concludes by presenting important but unsolved problems regarding both theory (the meaning of nondirectiveness and its operational definition) and practice of genetic counseling (the scope and content of the norm of nondirective counseling).
Footnotes
1
See for example the report by the Task Force of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology that cites professional statements on that issue (Dondorp et al. 2013).
 
2
See for example the statement by the American Society of Human Genetics (Botkin et al. 2015) or by the European Society of Human Genetics (Borry et al. 2009).
 
Literature
go back to reference Biesecker, Barbara. 2000. Reproduction, ethics, the ethics of reproductive genetic counseling: nondirectiveness. In Encyclopedia of ethical, legal, and policy issues in biotechnology, ed. T.J. Murray and M.J. Mehlman, 977–83. New York: Wiley. Biesecker, Barbara. 2000. Reproduction, ethics, the ethics of reproductive genetic counseling: nondirectiveness. In Encyclopedia of ethical, legal, and policy issues in biotechnology, ed. T.J. Murray and M.J. Mehlman, 977–83. New York: Wiley.
go back to reference Borry, Pascal, Gerry Evers-Kiebooms, Marina C. Cornel, Angus Clarke, and Kris Dierickx. 2009. Genetic testing in asymptomatic minors: Recommendations of the European Society of Human Genetics Recommendations of the European Society of Human Genetics. European Journal of Human Genetics 17 (6): 720–721. https://doi.org/10.1038/ejhg.2009.26.CrossRef Borry, Pascal, Gerry Evers-Kiebooms, Marina C. Cornel, Angus Clarke, and Kris Dierickx. 2009. Genetic testing in asymptomatic minors: Recommendations of the European Society of Human Genetics Recommendations of the European Society of Human Genetics. European Journal of Human Genetics 17 (6): 720–721. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1038/​ejhg.​2009.​26.CrossRef
go back to reference Bosk, Charles. 1993. The workplace ideology of genetic counselors. In Prescribing our future: Ethical challenges in genetic counseling, ed. D.M. Bartels, B.S. LeRoy, and A.L. Caplan, 25–37. New York: Aldine de Gruyter. Bosk, Charles. 1993. The workplace ideology of genetic counselors. In Prescribing our future: Ethical challenges in genetic counseling, ed. D.M. Bartels, B.S. LeRoy, and A.L. Caplan, 25–37. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
go back to reference Botkin, Jeffrey R., John Belmont, W., Berg, Jonathan S., Berkman, Benjamin E., Bombard, Yvonne, Holm, Ingrid. A., Levy, Howard P., Ormond, Kelly, Saal, Howard, M., Spinner, Nancy, B., Wilfond, Benjamin, S., and McInerney, Joseph, D. 2015. Points to consider: Ethical, legal, and psychosocial implications of genetic testing in children and adolescents. The American Journal of Human Genetics 97 (1): 6–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2015.05.022.CrossRef Botkin, Jeffrey R., John Belmont, W., Berg, Jonathan S., Berkman, Benjamin E., Bombard, Yvonne, Holm, Ingrid. A., Levy, Howard P., Ormond, Kelly, Saal, Howard, M., Spinner, Nancy, B., Wilfond, Benjamin, S., and McInerney, Joseph, D. 2015. Points to consider: Ethical, legal, and psychosocial implications of genetic testing in children and adolescents. The American Journal of Human Genetics 97 (1): 6–21. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1016/​j.​ajhg.​2015.​05.​022.CrossRef
go back to reference Caplan, Alan. 1993. Neutrality is not morality: The ethics of genetic counseling. In Prescribing our future: Ethical challenges in genetic counseling, ed. D.M. Bartels, B.S. LeRoy, and A.L. Caplan, 149–165. New York: Aldine de Gruyter. Caplan, Alan. 1993. Neutrality is not morality: The ethics of genetic counseling. In Prescribing our future: Ethical challenges in genetic counseling, ed. D.M. Bartels, B.S. LeRoy, and A.L. Caplan, 149–165. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
go back to reference Clarke, Angus. 1997. The process of genetic counseling: Beyond non-directiveness. In Genetics, society and clinical practice, ed. P.S. Harper and A.J. Clarke, 179–200. Oxford: BIOS Scientific. Clarke, Angus. 1997. The process of genetic counseling: Beyond non-directiveness. In Genetics, society and clinical practice, ed. P.S. Harper and A.J. Clarke, 179–200. Oxford: BIOS Scientific.
go back to reference Djurdjinovic, Luba. 1998. Psychosocial counseling. In A guide to genetic counseling, ed. D.L. Baker, J.L. Schuette, and W.R. Uhlmann, 127–166. New York: Wiley. Djurdjinovic, Luba. 1998. Psychosocial counseling. In A guide to genetic counseling, ed. D.L. Baker, J.L. Schuette, and W.R. Uhlmann, 127–166. New York: Wiley.
go back to reference Harris, Rodney. 1991. The new genetics: A challenge to traditional medicine. Journal of the Royal College of Physicians London 25: 134–140. Harris, Rodney. 1991. The new genetics: A challenge to traditional medicine. Journal of the Royal College of Physicians London 25: 134–140.
go back to reference Hsia, Edward. 1979. The genetic counselor as information giver. In Genetic counseling: Facts, values, and norms, ed. A.M. Capron, 169–186. New York: Alan R. Liss. Hsia, Edward. 1979. The genetic counselor as information giver. In Genetic counseling: Facts, values, and norms, ed. A.M. Capron, 169–186. New York: Alan R. Liss.
go back to reference Kahneman, Daniel, Paul Slovic, and Amos Tversky. 1982. Judgment under uncertainty: heuristics and biases. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRef Kahneman, Daniel, Paul Slovic, and Amos Tversky. 1982. Judgment under uncertainty: heuristics and biases. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRef
go back to reference Kessler, Seymour. 1997b. Psychological aspects of genetic counselling. XI. Nondirectiveness revisited. American Journal of Medical Genetics 72: 164–71.CrossRef Kessler, Seymour. 1997b. Psychological aspects of genetic counselling. XI. Nondirectiveness revisited. American Journal of Medical Genetics 72: 164–71.CrossRef
go back to reference Leroy, Bonnie. 1993. When theory meets practice: Challenges to the field of genetic counseling. In Prescribing our future: Ethical challenges in genetic counseling, ed. D.M. Bartels, B.S. LeRoy, and A.L. Caplan, 39–54. New York: Aldine de Gruyter. Leroy, Bonnie. 1993. When theory meets practice: Challenges to the field of genetic counseling. In Prescribing our future: Ethical challenges in genetic counseling, ed. D.M. Bartels, B.S. LeRoy, and A.L. Caplan, 39–54. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
go back to reference Marks, Joan. 1993. The training of genetic counselors: origins of a psychosocial model. In Prescribing our future. Ethical challenges in genetic counseling, ed. D.M. Bartels, B.S. LeRoy, and A.L. Caplan, 15–24. New York: Aldine de Gruyter. Marks, Joan. 1993. The training of genetic counselors: origins of a psychosocial model. In Prescribing our future. Ethical challenges in genetic counseling, ed. D.M. Bartels, B.S. LeRoy, and A.L. Caplan, 15–24. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
go back to reference McCarthy Veach, Patricia, Bonnie S. LeRoy, and Dianne M. Bartels. 2003. Facilitating the genetic counseling process: A manual for practice. New York: Springer. McCarthy Veach, Patricia, Bonnie S. LeRoy, and Dianne M. Bartels. 2003. Facilitating the genetic counseling process: A manual for practice. New York: Springer.
go back to reference Meiser, Bettina, Jennifer Irle, Elizabeth Lobb, and Kristine Barlow-Stewart. 2008. Assessment of the content and process of genetic counseling: A critical review of empirical studies. Journal of Genetic Counseling 17 (5): 434–451.CrossRef Meiser, Bettina, Jennifer Irle, Elizabeth Lobb, and Kristine Barlow-Stewart. 2008. Assessment of the content and process of genetic counseling: A critical review of empirical studies. Journal of Genetic Counseling 17 (5): 434–451.CrossRef
go back to reference Resta, Robert, Barbara Bowles Biesecker, Robin L. Bennett, Sandra Blum, Susan Estabrooks Hahn, Michelle N. Strecker, and Janet L. Williams. 2006. A new definition of genetic counseling: National Society of Genetic Counselors’ task force report. Journal of Genetic Counseling 15 (2): 77–83. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-005-9014-3.CrossRef Resta, Robert, Barbara Bowles Biesecker, Robin L. Bennett, Sandra Blum, Susan Estabrooks Hahn, Michelle N. Strecker, and Janet L. Williams. 2006. A new definition of genetic counseling: National Society of Genetic Counselors’ task force report. Journal of Genetic Counseling 15 (2): 77–83. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s10897-005-9014-3.CrossRef
go back to reference Rogers, Carl. 1967. On becoming a person: A therapist’s view of psychotherapy. London: Constable. Rogers, Carl. 1967. On becoming a person: A therapist’s view of psychotherapy. London: Constable.
go back to reference Rogers, Carl. 1980. A way of being. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin. Rogers, Carl. 1980. A way of being. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin.
go back to reference Rothman, Barbara Katz. 1986. The tentative pregnancy. New York: Viking Penguin. Rothman, Barbara Katz. 1986. The tentative pregnancy. New York: Viking Penguin.
go back to reference Schild, S. 1984. Markers for stress and criteria for ongoing counseling. Birth Defects Original Article Series 20: 107–113. Schild, S. 1984. Markers for stress and criteria for ongoing counseling. Birth Defects Original Article Series 20: 107–113.
go back to reference Sorenson, James R. 1993. Genetic counseling: Values that have mattered. In Prescribing our future Ethical challenges in genetic counseling, ed. D.M. Bartels, B.S. LeRoy, and A.L. Caplan, 3–14. New York: Aldine de Gruyter. Sorenson, James R. 1993. Genetic counseling: Values that have mattered. In Prescribing our future Ethical challenges in genetic counseling, ed. D.M. Bartels, B.S. LeRoy, and A.L. Caplan, 3–14. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
go back to reference Sorenson, James R., Carole M. Kavanagh, and Marc Mucatel. 1981. Client learning of risk and diagnosis in genetic counseling. Birth Defects Original Article Series 17 (1): 215–228. Sorenson, James R., Carole M. Kavanagh, and Marc Mucatel. 1981. Client learning of risk and diagnosis in genetic counseling. Birth Defects Original Article Series 17 (1): 215–228.
go back to reference Weil, Jon. 2000. Psychosocial genetic counseling. New York: Oxford University Press. Weil, Jon. 2000. Psychosocial genetic counseling. New York: Oxford University Press.
go back to reference Weil, Jon, Kelly Ormond, June Peters, Kathryn Peters, Barbara Bowles Biesecker, and Bonnie LeRoy. 2006. The relationship of nondirectiveness to genetic counseling: Report of a workshop at the 2003 NSGC Annual Education Conference. Journal of Genetic Counseling 15 (2): 85–93.CrossRef Weil, Jon, Kelly Ormond, June Peters, Kathryn Peters, Barbara Bowles Biesecker, and Bonnie LeRoy. 2006. The relationship of nondirectiveness to genetic counseling: Report of a workshop at the 2003 NSGC Annual Education Conference. Journal of Genetic Counseling 15 (2): 85–93.CrossRef
go back to reference Wertz, Dorothy, and Fletcher James. 2004. Genetics and ethics in global perspective. Berlin: Springer.CrossRef Wertz, Dorothy, and Fletcher James. 2004. Genetics and ethics in global perspective. Berlin: Springer.CrossRef
go back to reference Wertz, Dorothy, and Fletcher James. 1988. Attitudes of genetic counselors: A multinational survey. American Journal of Human Genetics 42: 592–600. Wertz, Dorothy, and Fletcher James. 1988. Attitudes of genetic counselors: A multinational survey. American Journal of Human Genetics 42: 592–600.
go back to reference Wertz, Dorothy, James Sorenson, and Timothy Heeren. 1986. Clients’ interpretation of risks provided in genetic counseling. American Journal of Human Genetics 39: 253–264. Wertz, Dorothy, James Sorenson, and Timothy Heeren. 1986. Clients’ interpretation of risks provided in genetic counseling. American Journal of Human Genetics 39: 253–264.
Metadata
Title
The principle of nondirectiveness in genetic counseling. Different meanings and various postulates of normative nature
Author
Weronika Chańska
Publication date
16-04-2022
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy / Issue 3/2022
Print ISSN: 1386-7423
Electronic ISSN: 1572-8633
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11019-022-10085-0

Other articles of this Issue 3/2022

Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy 3/2022 Go to the issue