Josep Santaló|María Berdasco
Ethical implications of epigenetics in the era of personalized medicine
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona|Institut d'Investigació Biomédica de Bellvitge
given increasing research activity epigenetics monitor human diseases connection lifestyle environmental expositions field epigenetics attracted great deal interest also ethical societal level review identify discuss current ethical legal social issues epigenetics research context personalized medicine review covers ethical aspects epigenetic information impact patient autonomy ability generate intentional voluntary decision measures data protection related privacy confidentiality derived epigenome studies eg risk discrimination patient reidentification unexpected findings debate distribution responsibilities health ie personal versus public responsibilities pay special attention risk social discrimination stigmatization consequence inferring information related lifestyle environmental exposures potentially contained epigenetic data furthermore exposures environment individual habits affect populations equally violation principle distributive justice access benefits clinical epigenetics discussed regard epigenetics represents great opportunity integration public policy measures aimed create healthier living environments whether public policies coexist contrast compete strategies reinforcing personalized medicine interventions needs considered review ends reflection main challenges epigenetic research technical dimension eg assessing causality establishing reference epigenomes also ethical social sphere eg risk add epigenetic determinism top current genetic one sum integration life science investigation social experiences exposure risk nutritional habits prejudice stigma imperative understand epigenetic variation disease pragmatic approach required locate clinical epigenetics experimental laboratories facilitate implementation society