If all human beings are individuals with a distinctive genetic signature who are exposed to different environmental influences, the personalized medical model will allow healthcare professionals to customize medical treatments and improve their positive outcomes on the population. However, the personalized approach is a complex model which will require further investments in multidisciplinary studies that will investigate the complex interactions between several factors. Furthermore, there are several possible drawbacks, such as lack of genetic understanding among the population or the potential risk of genetic discrimination development, which could implicate the advantages of scientific development towards a personalized medical model. Despite the existing and potential limitations of the personalized medical model, the personalized medical model has the potential to improve treatment outcomes and the population’s health status if society can utilize its advantages and overcome the obstacles.
Current advances in genetics allow a greater understanding of diseases at the molecular level. Healthcare professionals will understand the genetic signatures of tumors and diagnostic tests for all chronic condition will become more accurate (Hamburg & Collins, 2010). The investigation of common diseases at the molecular level will allow scientists to establish different subtypes and create more therapeutic possibilities, so the public will benefit from greater chances of health recovery (Hamburg & Collins, 2010). Understanding disorders at the molecular level will allow healthcare professionals to identify and focus on the causes of disorders immediately rather than studying symptoms and relying on clinical judgment. A personalized appro...
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...stem based on the personalized medicine model, scientific research continues because the advantages of understanding both internal and external factors that contribute to disease development together allows the creation of more effective medical treatments than any healthcare professional can offer today. The development of personalized medicine further will require significant increase of genetic literacy among the entire population because they will have to understand the new perspectives of medicine and transform existing paradigms on health, disease, and medical treatments. A higher degree of genetic literacy among the public and further research on risk factor interactions will allow the complete development of personalized medicine to ensure diagnostic accuracy, treatment choice accuracy, and prevent potential discrimination or misuse of scientific knowledge.
In conclusion, it is important for nurses to have proper training and information in the area of genetics and genomics so that it can be used in daily clinical practice (Thompson & Brooks, 2011). Using this information with clients and conducting a detailed genetic nursing assessment is a valuable component of being an effective health care provider and can help clients recognize, prevent, and/or treat diseases that are unique to their particular
It helps medics to find a direct genetic cause of the patient’s condition and target it with pharmaceutical or other therapies. The technology is used for the identification of DNA sequences that increase risks of current diseases and disorders; with this information carriers can start to make efforts to prevent them before the development of the problem. The video mentioned 200 actionable genes, structures that have direct links with a specific condition. Knowing about their presence, people have a chance to bring in preventive measures like taking anticoagulants in the case of identification of a thrombogenic gene. The technology led to the significant improvement of diagnostics and personalized treatments. It helped to find a rare, life-threatening mutation in case of Beery twins and assign a drug to a girl (Alexis) that returned her to a normal life. In the case of cancer genome sequencing led to the development of genetic drags, which target essential tumor genes and make malign structures to shrink. The video mentioned a product that works with the BRАF protein that induces cells to uncontrolled division; the drug led to the remission in the patient with metastasizing melanoma. Such treatment was effective in the case of cystic fibrosis. In the case of the breast cancer the technology helps to evaluate the aggressiveness of the condition and make a personalized decision about chemotherapy. The video also mentioned the pre-implantation genetic diagnosis – an early-staged technology that prevents the development of inherited disorders in
Collier Roger, A race-based detour to personalized medicine, CMAJ. April 17, 2012 vol. 184 no. 7, p E351–E353.
NitroMed’s study marks a growing movement that has begun to cite genetic makeup, specifically race-related genetic makeup, rather than environmental or other confounding factors as the source of disease. This shift in presumed cause of health-related problems raises many troubling implications. With race-based therapeutics comes the assumption that there are biological differences between races. The dangers of such implications are vast, the most pressing problem being the ambiguity of race, particularly with regard to genetic composition. Considerable studies have demonstrated the lack of genotypic correlations among members of a given race. Similarly, socioeconomic and other confounding variables have a profound impact on health and thus must be considered in the discussion of race-based therapeutics and research. This tension between social and biological conceptions of race is now at the forefront of discussion among scientific scholars seeking explanations for the relationship of disease and ethnicity (Foster 844).
Besides, how will people know who those 150 people are? " The dark side of too much health and genetics research is a common theme because technology furthers the possibilities of genetics and health research every
By using identified gene mutations that are known to cause diseases, asymptomatic individuals are able to discover if they are at risk for specific genetic conditions; this is known as genetic testing. Unfortunately, genetic testing can vary in its predictive ability. For example, Huntington disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Fragile X syndrome and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 are conditions that can be determined by genetic testing (Samen, 1996). In contrast, for multifaceted diseases like Alzheimer’s, breast and ovarian cancer and colorectal cancer, predisposition can be determined with genetic testing. However, an absolute diagnosis of those diseases cannot be made (Heshka et al., 2008).
Learning Experience Journal Entry – Director of Health Information Management and the Supervisor of Medical Records Coder
...hich inherited traits, such as those for genetic disease, can be tracked over generations. Throughout out the course of human development, scientists will continue to find new new ways to help the human race through the discovery of the human gene inside of each of us, its uses, as well as complications, that can help the survival of our species.
The advancement in health care and biomedical technology has made biomedical model that focuses just on curing the disease as the dominant approach. It excludes emotional, social, psychological and behavioral aspects of illness. However with increase in chronic disease and need for long term care, the healthcare delivery systems are changing, making it more patient centric. The health practices are gradually focusing on design of treatment plans based on patents narratives.
The biomedical model of health has its foundations in Pasteurs (1822-1896) germ theory with Koch's (1843-1910) refinement to specific causative factors resulting in specific diseases (Germov, 2009, p. 11; Saggers & Gray, 2007, pp. 3-4). This singularity of cause became the basis of the biomedical model. Further based around the Cartesian theory of disease as a dysfunction of the body or it's parts as separate to the mind. Illness is considered to be independant of social or psychological influences; rather it is a deviance from objective measurements of normality (Germov, 2009, pp. 10 -11; White, 2004, p. 29). Individual behaviour known as social agency dominates the biomedical model, ignoring the structural aspects of individual lifestyle (Cockerham, 2005, pp. 51 & 53).
The age of genetic technology has arrived. Thanks to genetic technological advancements, medical practitioners, with the help of genetic profiling, will be able to better diagnose patients and design individual tailored treatments; doctors will be able to discern which medications and treatments will be most beneficial and produce the fewest adverse side effects. Rationally designed vaccines have been created to provide optimal protection against infections. Food scientists have hopes of genetically altering crops to increase food production, and therefore mitigate global hunger. Law enforcement officers find that their job is made easier through the advancement of forensics; forensics is yet another contribution of genetic technology. Doctors have the ability to identify “high-risk” babies before they are born, which enables them to be better prepared in the delivery room. Additionally, oncologists are able to improve survival rates of cancer patients by administering genetically engineered changes in malignant tumors; these changes result in an increased immune response by the individual. With more than fifty years of research, and billions of dollars, scientists have uncovered methods to improve and prolong human life and the possibilities offered by gene therapy and genetic technology are increasing daily.
Health information management involves the practice of maintaining and taking care of health records in hospitals, health insurance companies and other health institutions, by the use of electronic means (McWay 176). Storage of medical information is carried out by health information management and HIT professionals using information systems that suit the needs of these institutions. This paper answers four major questions concerning health information systems.
The American Cancer Society publishes current advances made in cancer research on their website. Many of the exciting discoveries about how best to treat the disease focus on the genetic aspects associated with certain types of cancer. In addition, treatments aimed at genetic solutions to cancer may be more effective and may cause fewer adverse side effects than traditional cancer treatments (American Can...
As we approach the 21st century, we as a society are increasingly bombarded with technical advances. One such area of advancement is the research involved with the Human Genome Mapping Project (HGMP). HGMP is a multi-billion dollar world wide research collaboration interested in sequencing the entire human genome. Started on October 1, 1990, with a group of over 350 labs, and expected to finish within the next 5 to 7 years, the Human Genome Mapping Project has given rise to many important advancements and many discoveries about the genetic make-up of humans (Bylinsky, 1994). With these advances come many ethical questions and concerns. The ability to screen an individual for specific disease will, in the future, play a major role in each of our lives. Genetic screening is defined in Genethics, by Suzuki and Knudson (1990), as "the examination of the genetic constitution of an individual - whether a fetus, a young child or a mature adult - in search of clues to the likelihood that this person will develop or transmit a heritable defect or disease."
Almost everybody knows someone with a genetic disease. An aunt, a daughter, a friend, a coworker, every body is susceptible to have a genetic based disease. There are many types of genetic diseases ranging from skin malformations to lethal heart problems that could cause death. Genetic diseases affect newborns “Of the 3 to 6 percent of newborns with a recognized birth defect, at least half involve a predominantly genetic contribution.” (Fridovich, Fridovich-Kelly &Robinson, 2013, p.1); though there are other diseases such as cancer or aids that are obtained through an individual’s life and a big percentage of people are affected. That is why many scientists have searched for a solution to these problems that have affected so many people. Somatic cell gene therapy is the best cure to treat genetic diseases.