Aconselhamento genético

Abstract

Because genetic counseling is a topic relatively new, few people know about the indications and the need for counseling. Talking with a family about genetic disease is rarely easy. The impact of a genetic illness is different from that of other diseases because the gene is innate. It is responsibility of health professional to provide family members with as much information as possible so that they can make decisions that are appropriate from them. Diagnosis, natural history, recurrence risk, therapy, prenatal diagnosis and prevention are topics to be covered during genetic counseling. This topics, follow-up, supportive services, ethical issues and future perspectives are discussed in this article.