This document discusses genetic counseling and related issues. It defines genetics as the study of genes and heredity, and counseling as a form of talk therapy. Genetic counseling refers to guidance from a genetic counselor about genetic disorders, risks, and test results to help individuals and families make informed medical decisions. The goals of genetic counseling include helping people understand test results, address emotional concerns, and connect with support services. Key aspects addressed are the counseling process, common issues like ensuring informed consent, and ethical considerations around testing and treatment options.

1. Title: Genetic Counseling and
related Issues
Submitted to: Sir Asif Shehzad
Submitted by: Rubab Rasheed
Department of Biochemistry
LYALLPUR INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT AND SCIENCE

2. Genetics:
Genetics is the scientific study of genes and heredity—of how certain qualities or traits are passed
from parents to offspring as a result of changes in DNA sequence. A gene is a segment of DNA that
contains instructions for building one or more molecules that help the body work.
Counselling:
Counselling is a form of 'talk therapy'. It is a process where an individual, couple or family meet
with a trained professional counsellor to talk about issues and problems that they are facing in
their lives. Professional counselling is confidential and non-judgmental.

3. Genetic Counseling:
• Genetic counseling refers to guidance relating
to genetic disorders that a specialized
healthcare professional (genetic counselor)
provides to an individual or family. A genetic
counselor might provide information about
how a genetic condition could affect an
individual or family and/or interpret genetic
tests designed to help estimate the risk of a
disease. The genetic counselor conveys
information to address the concerns of the
individual or family, helps them make an
informed decision about their medical situation
and provides psychological counseling to help
them adapt to their condition or risk.

4. Aims of genetic counselling:
 Genetic counseling after testing can help
you better understand your test results
and treatment options
 help you deal with emotional concerns
 refer you to other healthcare providers
and advocacy and support groups

5. Functions of Genetic Counselling:

6. Steps of genetics counselling:
Diagnosis
Prognosis
Treatment

7. Issues in genetic counselling:
 Awareness of the Impediments to Effective Genetic
Counseling
 No directiveness
 Informed Consent
 Confidentiality
 Communicating Risks and Dealing with Uncertainty
 Recognizing Social and Cultural Differences

8. Ethical issues in genetic counselling:
 Identifying Pregnant Patients.
 Identifying and testing pregnant patients is one of the
more common ethical issues in genetics counseling
 Lack of Treatments
 False Results
 Inappropriate Testing
 Forensic Issues

9. Conclusion:
 Genetic counseling enables couples / affected individuals to make decisions about a future
pregnancy. It helps the affected individual to educate and cope with the disorder with
minimal clinical problems.
 Understanding genetic factors and genetic disorders is important in learning more about
promoting health and preventing disease.
 Genetic counseling brings together traditional medicine with the ‘new genetics’ and
applies them both to the difficult circumstances of those individuals and families who
are confronted by the reality of genetic disease.

10. THANK YOU
Any Question?