Ethics and newborn genetic screening

New technologies and knowledge raise questions about the US public health program screening of newborns for genetic conditions. A scholar in ethics and health policy and the president/ CEO of The Hastings Center (Garrison, New York) introduce 16 chapters by interdisciplinary experts regarding the program's benefits, cost-effectiveness, and ethical, social, policy, and national research agenda issues. For example, they present the debate on whether early diagnosis via screening would improve the prognosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The volume, which includes recommendations and descriptions of several genetic disorders and tests for them, is based on the "Ethical Decision-Making for Newborn Genetic Screening" project.