GENETIC TESTS IN MINORS: A VULNERABLE PATIENT SOMETIMES FORGOTTEN...

Abstract

Traditionally, minority goes together with vulnerability. Indeed, whatever their age, minors are legally considered as incapable who should be represented by the persons who have the parental authority, parents in most cases, and who should take the decision concerning them. However, since 2002, parental authority is dealing with the new rights granted to minors in the medical care relationship. They should, henceforth, be systematically involved in decisions that affect their health. The changing role of the minor in the medical area also affects the clinical genetics field while leaving grey areas in the application of these rights and in their effectiveness, in particular concerning the disclosure of genetic information to family members in the scope of the procedure adopted in 2011.