Precision medicine and Friedreich ataxia: promoting equity, beneficence, and informed consent for novel gene therapies

Abstract Friedreich Ataxia (FA) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease with systemic consequences affecting vital organs including those of the central and peripheral nervous systems. This article will use FA as an example to explore some of the practical and ethical issues emerging in precision...

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Main Authors: Faith A. A. Kwa, Evie Kendal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:International Journal for Equity in Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-024-02318-w
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author Faith A. A. Kwa
Evie Kendal
author_facet Faith A. A. Kwa
Evie Kendal
author_sort Faith A. A. Kwa
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Friedreich Ataxia (FA) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease with systemic consequences affecting vital organs including those of the central and peripheral nervous systems. This article will use FA as an example to explore some of the practical and ethical issues emerging in precision medicine for rare diseases. It will first describe the existing management strategies available for FA patients, before considering the potential impact of gene therapy trials on the prevention and treatment of disease symptoms. Finally, ethical considerations will be discussed, including equity of access and managing resource allocation dilemmas; balancing benefits, burdens and harms; and gaining informed consent for novel treatments.
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publishDate 2024-11-01
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spelling doaj-art-34d31240c4cd45ce85cce3c869c43e0a2025-08-20T02:13:27ZengBMCInternational Journal for Equity in Health1475-92762024-11-012311710.1186/s12939-024-02318-wPrecision medicine and Friedreich ataxia: promoting equity, beneficence, and informed consent for novel gene therapiesFaith A. A. Kwa0Evie Kendal1School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of TechnologySchool of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of TechnologyAbstract Friedreich Ataxia (FA) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease with systemic consequences affecting vital organs including those of the central and peripheral nervous systems. This article will use FA as an example to explore some of the practical and ethical issues emerging in precision medicine for rare diseases. It will first describe the existing management strategies available for FA patients, before considering the potential impact of gene therapy trials on the prevention and treatment of disease symptoms. Finally, ethical considerations will be discussed, including equity of access and managing resource allocation dilemmas; balancing benefits, burdens and harms; and gaining informed consent for novel treatments.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-024-02318-w
spellingShingle Faith A. A. Kwa
Evie Kendal
Precision medicine and Friedreich ataxia: promoting equity, beneficence, and informed consent for novel gene therapies
International Journal for Equity in Health
title Precision medicine and Friedreich ataxia: promoting equity, beneficence, and informed consent for novel gene therapies
title_full Precision medicine and Friedreich ataxia: promoting equity, beneficence, and informed consent for novel gene therapies
title_fullStr Precision medicine and Friedreich ataxia: promoting equity, beneficence, and informed consent for novel gene therapies
title_full_unstemmed Precision medicine and Friedreich ataxia: promoting equity, beneficence, and informed consent for novel gene therapies
title_short Precision medicine and Friedreich ataxia: promoting equity, beneficence, and informed consent for novel gene therapies
title_sort precision medicine and friedreich ataxia promoting equity beneficence and informed consent for novel gene therapies
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-024-02318-w
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