I am asking that the patient be protected. The refusal clause in the licensure legislation is so broad that it would allow genetic counselors to deny counseling to their patients based on thecounselor"s personal beliefs. This could well lead to physical and emotional damage to the patient they are supposed to be helping.  

Notwithstanding this harmful refusal clause in the enabling legislation, the Department has recognized that patients rely on genetic counselors’ counseling and referrals to help patients copewith difficult pragmatic, ethical, and social implications related to genetic testing. The Department has likewise recognized that, because many of these decisions are related to controversial political and moral issues, patients must be able to rely on genetic counselors to provide unbiased information and to protect patient privacy. For these and other reasons, I urge the Advisory Board on Genetic Counseling to promulgate rules directing that the scope of practice of genetic counselors be consistent with standards articulated by the American Board of Genetic Counseling. Moreover, I urge the Advisory Board to incorporate the Code of Ethics of the National Society of Genetic Counselors in its rules for the standards of professional conduct for genetic counselors. In addition, the Advisory Board should articulate with specificity: what constitutes a reasonable time period for the genetic counselor to inform his or her client of his or her refusal to participate in certain genetic counseling; what constitutes a reasonable time period by which the genetic counselor, upon refusal to counsel his or her patient due to moral or religious reasons, will refer his or her patient to the online directory of genetic counselors maintained by the Board; and finally, how the genetic counselor will accommodate the legal requirement for referral when the patient does not have, or cannot reasonably obtain, access to the online directory of genetic counselors maintained by the Board.

Thank you for protecting the patient.