A national dialogue on genetics and minority issues

This paper summarizes two-day deliberations on issues of genetic services and diverse communities, attended by experts representing genetic consumers, representatives of diverse communities and genetic providers/scientists. The discussions held in round table dialogue sessions focused on the following subjects: Inclusion of ethnic/racial minorities in bio-medical research; ensuring minority access to genetic services; consumer protection in genetic testing and empowering minority communities to take part in genetic research and service provision. The discussions are vividly illustrated by the presentation of numerous quotes obtained from transcripts of the sessions held. The paper concludes with useful recommendations for genetic providers, educators, scientists, and policy makers on the issues of involving diverse communities in the various aspects of the new genetics.

Informed consent and patient's rights documents: a right, a rite, or a rewrite?

Both research participants and patients are presumably offered protection from harm through the processes of informed consent and patient's rights. However, both documents are often written at unacceptably high "college" reading levels, making them incomprehensible to the "average" reader who may be reading at a junior-high reading level. Readability researchers are often unfamiliar with important details of readability software, leading to consistent underestimates of document readability. Most informed consent and patient's rights documents are writtin in a one-size-fits-all style and fail to take into account important differences based on cognitive development. Several strategies are described to improve the quality and effectiveness of these materials.