Personalized Medicine - Research Paper Example

With the simple blood test, disorders related to genes are detected. This was revealed in the study by Holtzman and Shapiro (1998) where there was a significant reduction in the birth of thalassaemia among high risk in Cyprus, Sardinia and in the Mediterranean regions. Through prenatal diagnosis, couples are given the option for selective termination of pregnancy believed to carry genetic abnormalities. The study also found out that screening tests are helpful in determining other health problems such as sickle cell anemia, phenylketonuria, thyroid carcinoma, and multiple endocrine neoplasias that may arise as a result of defective gene combinations.

Not only that physical abnormality could be limited but also the psychological sequels as a result of discrimination are also prevented. With these breakthroughs in genetic science, personalized medicine emerged in an effort to dissect the many combinations of genes to optimize preventative measures of patients to reduce the number of incidences. The technology employed in modern genetics also laid the foundation to experts behind the personalized medicine to include a more complex study such as cytogenetics, cancer genetics, and cell biology in providing patients with individualized treatment.

The individualized therapeutic care is based on the concept that patients do not respond to the same selected medication. The study of the patient’s protein including the genetic and metabolic profiling helps in stratifying the disease. which is helpful in proper medication and dosage. In addition, modern genetic technology provided personalized medicine with the basics of going in depth studies of complex diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart diseases. This way, personalized medicine serves as the extension of traditional approach in understanding and treating disease.

Benefits of personalized medicine Personalized medicine has varied benefits not only to individuals at risk of possible genetic health problems but also to medical practitioners and to the pharmaceutical companies as well. Individuals at risks can request diagnostic test directly from pharmaceutical companies for certain diseases without seeking the authorization of the physician. Companies such as 23ndMe Incorporated, decodeMe, and Navigenics provide services on genome profiling to consumers.

The service offered by these companies provides the public convenience and accessibility to the test for diagnosis. Furthermore, it promotes diagnostic awareness to the public in general (Haga, 2009). However, the same study warns that the non interference of a physician might lead to miscommunication leading to psychosocial harm and impacts life decision such as unnecessary family