ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the concept of risk in the context of predictive genetic screening for asymptomatic disease and susceptibilities. It is assumed that this will lead to better understanding of the genetic screening and counselling procedure. Conceptual clarity and precision is, of course, also valuable in pretest education and counselling, and it should be an important prerequisite in written educational material. The chapter considers the need for further clarification of the concept of risk by presenting a survey of the most important ‘risks’. It distinguishes the concepts of uncertainty, possibility, probability and risk. The chapter examines the differences between objective assessment of risk and more individual, subjective forms of risk assessment. A more important difference between uncertainty and risk is that the concept of risk usually includes some form of probability assessment, whereas uncertainty includes a notion of possibility.
