Which statement about informed consent for genomic testing is most accurate?

• A. Consent is unnecessary for genomic testing.
• B. Consent should address potential incidental findings, privacy, data use, and future options.
• C. Consent is only about whether testing is reimbursed.
• D. Consent must be obtained after all testing is completed.

Answer: (B)

Informed consent for genomic testing is about preparing the patient for what the test can reveal and how the resulting information will be handled over time. The best statement recognizes that consent needs to cover not just the act of testing but also potential incidental findings, privacy concerns, how the data may be used or shared, and the options patients have for future decisions (such as whether to receive certain results or to permit reanalysis or data use in research). Genomic data can uncover information unrelated to the initial reason for testing, can affect family members, and may be stored, analyzed again, or shared in ways that have privacy and discrimination implications, so patients should be fully informed and able to opt in or out of these possibilities.

Consent being unnecessary ignores patient autonomy and potential harms. Limiting consent to reimbursement misses the medical, privacy, and future-use dimensions. Obtaining consent after testing defeats the purpose of informing the patient beforehand.