Why Should Genetic Counselors Become Licensed?
The progress of the Human Genome Project has created a need and a demand for genetic information. Newspapers, websites, and other media outlets offer an overflow of information, but often leave the reader with many questions, and nowhere to turn for answers. As science and technology advance, learning more about the way our DNA can affect our health and lifespan, we need a way to find out how these advances apply to us, personally. Most physicians are not experts in genetics or hereditary diseases, and do not always know how to advise concerned patients with regards to genetic issues. However, physicians can, and do, refer their patients to genetic counselors, who then provide patients with accurate information regarding the likelihood of occurrence of genetic disease in a family, the need for genetic screening or testing, and technologies currently available. Although the need for genetic counselors is rapidly expanding, the number of trained genetic counselors is still small. Unfortu
