Genomic uncertainty and genetic counsellors' professional authority

Abstract

Genomic tests regularly produce Variants of Uncertain Significance (VUS), mutations of which currently little is known but may turn out to be disease-causing. The communication of such variants in the United States is typically delegated to genetic counsellors. Based on in-depth interviews, we examined this communication as an indicator of the genetic counsellor's professional status: did they take a subordinate position by reporting out the results as provided by laboratories or did they assert professional authority by interpreting and possibly reducing the uncertainty of VUS results? We found that genetic counsellors put their professional spin on VUS results and they prepared patients for the full range of possible interpretations by normalising the existence of VUS results; intervened in the ecology of testing laboratories to stack the deck in favour of the expected results; and conducted their own research to reclassify a VUS. They marshalled organisational, technical, scientific and communication expertise to ease the sting of uncertainty but were ultimately limited by their role in the counselling encounter rather than in the basic research or laboratory community. We concluded that genetic counsellors use uncertainty to assert professional authority that interpreted genetic test results in light of the patient's symptoms and risk profile and uncertainty tolerance.

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