ABSTRACT
The debate concerning genetic testing of minors for adult-onset, untreatable diseases has focused largely on the testing of young children at third party or parental request. Adolescents who actively request predictive testing of their own accord are seldom considered separately. Yet self-referral by adolescents does occur, albeit infrequently. The precedent set by the Huntington’s disease (HD) predictive testing guidelines is that testing should be available only to individuals aged 18 years and over. This chapter presents a case for the assessment of adolescent requests for genetic testing. The consensus reached by international groups of scientists, ethicists, clinicians and members of lay organisations in drawing up HD predictive testing guidelines is that testing should be available only to individuals who have reached the age of majority. The general opinion among professionals is that testing children for adult-onset, untreatable disorders holds more potential for harm than for benefit.
