Patients' subjective interpretation of risks offered in genetic counselling

Abstract

Follow up studies of a large general group of parents who have attended genetic counselling clinics and surveys of special genetic risk groups perhaps offer unique opportunities to study patients' subjective interpretation of risks in the clinical, as opposed to the psychological laboratory situation. Both types of approach offer complementary evidence of the way in which the normal individual considers personal risk. The personal subjective interpretation of odds is one of the two major influences which shape the decisions parents ultimately make in what can be regarded as a clinical gambling situation confronting normal people. One makes no judgement of these subjective influences or decisions resulting therefrom; rather, a knowledge of such influences is helpful when advice, prognosis, and counsel is being given. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss these factors which shape the individual's subjective interpretation of mathematical risk given to him in the genetic context.