DTC says "Steal your baby's genome....it's fun!"

One of the big things 23andMe has emphasized in the past is that their data is not to be used to make medical decisions.....

"23andMe's services are not medical ... they are educational," argues 23andMe spokesman Paul Kranhold.

This from Forbes when the regulatory heat was on in the spring.

Then their consent notes that their kit is not for medical use:

Furthermore, 23andMe's service is not a test or kit designed to diagnose disease or medical conditions, and it is not intended to be medical advice

Then their blog lists their terms of service which includes.......

23andMe does not recommend or endorse any specific course of action, resources, tests, physicians, drugs, biologics, medical devices or other products, ...

So naturally when I read the interview of Linda and Anne with Emily Singer at TechReview I was a little surprised....to say the least

TR: What will be one of the first examples of genetic information someone might use to make a medical decision?

Wojcicki: One of the areas we've talked a lot about is pharmacogenomics--being able to say, should you take ibuprofen? Or if you have a new baby and you're flying to Europe, should that child take Benadryl, or will it make them hyper?

Ok, Ok, this is the hype that will kill genomics. Unless I have been asleep for the last 6 months, some things have changed.

1. 23andMe is now stating that people can use their tests to make medical decisions......

2. They are moving into pharmacogenomics, but not providing medical advice

3. They are using a BOGUS example (Benadryl response) and not stating that this is not a genetic reality TODAY.

4. Lastly, the implication is that as a parent, you can test your child's genome without their consent is abhorrent and unethical. Even the remote possibility of being able to do that with their kits is scary and needs to be investigated.

This is where the straw breaks the camel's back.

Anne, are you serious? Do you really think it is ok to test your child for a hypothetical benadryl response(which has no basis in any reality out there)? Have you lost it? Have you heard of informed consent? OMG! This is crazy!!!!!

This, ladies and gentlemen is precisely why I am so concerned about what is going on with this and other companies. The CEO of this company thinks it's ok to take a swab or saliva from your child and test it for millions of SNPs just so you can dope the kid up on a trip to Europe. Most likely without their consent! Is it for any health benefit at all???? Oh, I guess we should allow parents to have their kids drug tested "just because", or force our kids to have pregnancy tests, or better yet, let's just call this what it is "Stealing your child's genome and exposing it to discrimination and risk without their consent"

You see, I knew this would come out. There is a lack of maturity at the highest levels in this company and a significant lack of concern for privacy and personal risk.

The Sherpa says: Wojcicki: One of the areas we've talked a lot about is pharmacogenomics--being able to say, should you take ibuprofen? Or if you have a new baby and you're flying to Europe, should that child take Benadryl, or will it make them hyper? I am appalled and speechless. Stealing a genome, to make a faulty prediction and expose your child to risk. I hope Linda will set this one straight......and a "No one was implying that it is ok to steal a person's genome" quote just won't cut it. This could kill DTC completely if the regulators read about this!