DNA Paternity Testing in Lebanon: Ambiguity in Laboratory Practices, Unsolved Ethical Issues, and Need for a Legislative Framework
This study assesses the legal and ethical frameworks for genetic testing in Lebanon, with a particular focus on paternity testing. Information collected from 16 laboratories revealed that paternity testing is performed solely in the four laboratories accredited by the Ministry of Public Health, but...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Programmes de bioéthique, École de santé publique de l'Université de Montréal
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Canadian Journal of Bioethics |
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| Online Access: | https://cjb-rcb.ca/index.php/cjb-rcb/article/view/748 |
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| author | Mirna Azoury José-Noel Ibrahim Hasan Yassine Fadi Abou-Mrad |
| author_facet | Mirna Azoury José-Noel Ibrahim Hasan Yassine Fadi Abou-Mrad |
| author_sort | Mirna Azoury |
| collection | DOAJ |
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This study assesses the legal and ethical frameworks for genetic testing in Lebanon, with a particular focus on paternity testing. Information collected from 16 laboratories revealed that paternity testing is performed solely in the four laboratories accredited by the Ministry of Public Health, but only half of the tests are made through the court. Interestingly, one laboratory does not require the parents’ consent prior to paternity testing, and individuals are generally not informed about the possibility of misattributed paternity (73.3%) or disease predispositions (53.3%). Moreover, the disclosure of incidental findings is done by only 37.5% of laboratories. Unfortunately, genetic findings are communicated in the absence of a psychologist in 90% of cases. When deemed necessary, results are shared in 12.5% of cases with other health professionals, without the consent of the patient. Our study highlights the need to develop comprehensive guidelines and regulations that cover paternity testing in Lebanon.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dbd1c57e71e942a88667a59cdb55bda2 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2561-4665 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Programmes de bioéthique, École de santé publique de l'Université de Montréal |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Canadian Journal of Bioethics |
| spelling | doaj-art-dbd1c57e71e942a88667a59cdb55bda22025-08-20T02:15:20ZengProgrammes de bioéthique, École de santé publique de l'Université de MontréalCanadian Journal of Bioethics2561-46652025-04-0181-210.7202/1117865arDNA Paternity Testing in Lebanon: Ambiguity in Laboratory Practices, Unsolved Ethical Issues, and Need for a Legislative FrameworkMirna Azoury0José-Noel Ibrahim1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3507-0119Hasan Yassine2https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9994-4235Fadi Abou-Mrad3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5800-6120Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, LebanonDepartment of Biological Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, LebanonDepartment of Biological Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, LebanonFaculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon This study assesses the legal and ethical frameworks for genetic testing in Lebanon, with a particular focus on paternity testing. Information collected from 16 laboratories revealed that paternity testing is performed solely in the four laboratories accredited by the Ministry of Public Health, but only half of the tests are made through the court. Interestingly, one laboratory does not require the parents’ consent prior to paternity testing, and individuals are generally not informed about the possibility of misattributed paternity (73.3%) or disease predispositions (53.3%). Moreover, the disclosure of incidental findings is done by only 37.5% of laboratories. Unfortunately, genetic findings are communicated in the absence of a psychologist in 90% of cases. When deemed necessary, results are shared in 12.5% of cases with other health professionals, without the consent of the patient. Our study highlights the need to develop comprehensive guidelines and regulations that cover paternity testing in Lebanon. https://cjb-rcb.ca/index.php/cjb-rcb/article/view/748genetic testingpaternity testingapplied ethicslawLebanon |
| spellingShingle | Mirna Azoury José-Noel Ibrahim Hasan Yassine Fadi Abou-Mrad DNA Paternity Testing in Lebanon: Ambiguity in Laboratory Practices, Unsolved Ethical Issues, and Need for a Legislative Framework Canadian Journal of Bioethics genetic testing paternity testing applied ethics law Lebanon |
| title | DNA Paternity Testing in Lebanon: Ambiguity in Laboratory Practices, Unsolved Ethical Issues, and Need for a Legislative Framework |
| title_full | DNA Paternity Testing in Lebanon: Ambiguity in Laboratory Practices, Unsolved Ethical Issues, and Need for a Legislative Framework |
| title_fullStr | DNA Paternity Testing in Lebanon: Ambiguity in Laboratory Practices, Unsolved Ethical Issues, and Need for a Legislative Framework |
| title_full_unstemmed | DNA Paternity Testing in Lebanon: Ambiguity in Laboratory Practices, Unsolved Ethical Issues, and Need for a Legislative Framework |
| title_short | DNA Paternity Testing in Lebanon: Ambiguity in Laboratory Practices, Unsolved Ethical Issues, and Need for a Legislative Framework |
| title_sort | dna paternity testing in lebanon ambiguity in laboratory practices unsolved ethical issues and need for a legislative framework |
| topic | genetic testing paternity testing applied ethics law Lebanon |
| url | https://cjb-rcb.ca/index.php/cjb-rcb/article/view/748 |
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