ABSTRACT
The next-generation sequencing technology has been widely used in genetic counseling, but there are two major problems in the application of new technology, namely, the lack of unified technical specifications and clear ethical boundary, which would limit industry development and impaired public rights and interests. The solution of the former problem depends on technological progress, while the latter requires the delineation of ethical boundary.Genetic counseling should follow WHO's recommendations and guidelines. Four basic principles of medical ethics, namely, no harm, good deeds, autonomy and impartiality, constitute the principle boundary of genetic counseling ethics. Informed consent in practice is the rigid red line of the ethical principle boundary of next-generation sequencing.There are many problems in the implementation of informed consent in China. Five types and 15 notification points of informed consent in the application of next-generation sequencing were proposed from the technical point of view in this article.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To discuss possible ethical and boundary issues when contacting clients through WeChat in different situations. Methods: Self-made questionnaires were utilized to investigate 194 counselors' (18 counselors gave clients their job WeChat ID, 64 counselors gave their private WeChat ID, and 115 counselors do not give WeChat toclients) attitudes and behaviors of encountering multiple relationship issues when using WeChat Results: For WeChat boundary, counselors who had job WeChat ID would post more private photos and videos on the post than counselors with no job ID and without ID(P <0.01). Although 41％ of counselors would use WeChat during the counseling and other related activities, only 10％ of the counselors had job ID. Counselors with no ID tended to accept clients breaking the boundaries through other ways (P <0.01). Conclusion: The study indicates that counselors have encountered ethic issues of multiple relationships when using WeChat Counselors who only have private WeChat ID should increase their sensitivity of the boundary issues in the use of WeChat.