Genetic ignorance and reasonable paternalism

The question concerning an individual's right to remain in ignorance regard ing her own genetic makeup is central to debates about genetic information. Whatever is decided on this matter has a weighty bearing on all of the rel ated third-party issues, such as whether family members or employers should be told about an individual's genetic makeup. Those arguing that no right to genetic ignorance exists tend to argue from a viewpoint I have called in this paper reasonable paternalism. It is an appealing position which rests on widely shared intuitions on reasonable choices, but which, in the end, smuggles paternalism back to medical practice.