PROVIDERS GENDER AND MORAL REASONING - A PROPOSED AGENDA FOR RESEARCHON PROVIDERS AND PATIENTS

Women constitute 35% of providers in genetics, at the doctoral level. A survey of 682 geneticists in 19 nations showed that gender was the s ingle most important determinant of ethical decision making. Women wer e less directive and more observant of patient autonomy than men. The future influx of women into medicine calls for research on provider ge nder and decisions. Research is also needed on women's and men's perce ptions of abortion for genetic reasons, on extended families' views, o n agreement between partners and on overall effectiveness of genetic c ounseling, including communication, elements of provider satisfaction, interpretation of risk and uncertainty after counseling.