Commercial predictive testing: the desirability of one overseeing body

In Europe a process of harmonisation of standards and regulations on geneti c testing has started. Public discussion and consultation are recommended, but it is not clear in every European country how the decision making proce ss as regards the further introduction of genetic testing services should b e formed. In this paper the usefulness and importance of an overseeing body for genetic screening and testing is founded on four lines of reasoning: ( 1) analysis of the role of value judgments in the use of the concept of (ge netic) abnormality; (2) a balancing of potential benefits for all parties i nvolved; (3) a balancing of potential disadvantages, and (4) the greater av ailability of commercial genetic tests in the future. It is further argued that such art overseeing body has advantages for all the interested parties .