Certainty and uncertainty in genetic counselling: A qualitative case study

This study examines the communication that occurs during routine genetic co unselling sessions. It involves;the qualitative analysis of nine consultati ons with one member of a clinical genetics team. The consultations were characterised by a contrast between the sense of cer tainty apparent in how the clinician talked about the power and promise of the new genetics and the uncertainty communicated regarding the actual info rmation produced by genetic tests and their limitations in solving people's problems. There was also a contrast between how the clinician seemed to co ntrol the format and agenda of the consultation and the apparently uncontro llable personal and social implications of the topics discussed. We specula te that this may be explained in terms of the clinician giving some order a nd certainty in an area of inherent uncertainty, and where great promises a re as yet unrealised.