Genomics in the era of COVID-19: ethical implications for clinical practice and public health

Gail Geller; Priya Duggal; Chloe L Thio; Debra Mathews; Jeffrey P Kahn; Lisa L Maragakis; Brian T Garibaldi

doi:10.1186/s13073-020-00792-9

Genomics in the era of COVID-19: ethical implications for clinical practice and public health

Genome Med. 2020 Nov 9;12(1):95. doi: 10.1186/s13073-020-00792-9.

Authors

Gail Geller^{1

2

3}, Priya Duggal⁴, Chloe L Thio^{5

6}, Debra Mathews^{7

5}, Jeffrey P Kahn^{7

4}, Lisa L Maragakis^{5

8}, Brian T Garibaldi^{5

9}

Affiliations

¹ Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Deering Hall, Room 202, 1809 Ashland Ave., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. ggeller@jhu.edu.
² Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. ggeller@jhu.edu.
³ Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. ggeller@jhu.edu.
⁴ Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
⁵ Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁶ Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Hepatitis Center, 855 N. Wolfe St. Rangos Room 533, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
⁷ Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Deering Hall, Room 202, 1809 Ashland Ave., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
⁸ Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Infection Control, 600 N. Wolfe St., Osler 425, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
⁹ Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Pulmonology, 5501 Hopkins Bayview Circle, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.

Abstract

Genomic studies of patients with COVID-19, or exposed to it, are underway to delineate host factors associated with variability in susceptibility, infectivity, and disease severity. Here, we highlight the ethical implications-both potential benefits and harms-of genomics for clinical practice and public health in the era of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Ethics; Host genomics.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Betacoronavirus
COVID-19
Clinical Decision-Making / methods
Coronavirus Infections / pathology*
Coronavirus Infections / therapy
Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
Genetic Testing / ethics*
Genomics / ethics*
Genomics / methods
Humans
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral / pathology*
Pneumonia, Viral / therapy
Public Health / ethics*
Public Health / methods
SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding