Predictive Medicine

Predictive medicine uses genetic testing to predict the likelihood of a person being afflicted with a certain disease or ailment. By obtaining this information and assessing such risks, predictive medicine theoretically allows a person to take effective steps towards prevention of the disease. The intent is to catch things early enough to be able to delay or otherwise manage the occurrence of disease. In theory, predictive medicine will have a major influence on the way patients are treated as physicians will move from reacting to illness to prescribing for prevention and protection. Predictive medicine has raised many ethical and legal questions, with concerns raised about the use of genetic information and possible discrimination by health insurance and life insurance providers.