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Ethics
Pharmacogenetics has become a controversial issue in the area of bioethics. It's a new topic to the public and as well as to the medical field. This new technique will have a huge impact in society, on how both common and rare diseases would be treated in the future. As a new topic in the medical field the ethics behind it are still not clear. However, ethical issues are already been address as well as possible solutions.

There are three main ethical issues that have risen from pharmacogenetics. First, would there be equity at both drug development and the accessibility to tests. The concern of accessibility to the test is whether is going to be available directly to patients via internet or over the counter. Second the confidentiality with concern of storage and usage of genetics information. Thirdly, would patients have the control of whether they want to be tested.

One concern that has risen is the ethical decision health providers have to take with respect to educating the patient of the risk and benefits of medicine developed by this new technology. Pharmacogenetics is the new process that increases benefits of medicine and decreases the risk. However clinicians have been unsuccessfully in educated the patient with the concept of benefits over risk. The Nuffield Council[] reported that patients and health professionals have adequate information about pharmacogenetics tests and medicine. Health care providers will also encounter an ethical decision in deciding to tell their patients that only certain individuals will benefit from the new medicine due to their genetic make-up. Another ethical concern is that patients that have not taken the test be able to have access to this type of medicines. If access is given by the doctor the medicine could not only harm the patient but also have poorly benefits to the patients’ health. The ethical issues behind pharmacogenetics tests as well as medicine is still a concern and policies will be implemented in the future.