Guests:
Laura Hercher, Genetic Counselor, Sarah Lawrence College
Nathan Pearson, Genomicist
Chapters:
0:00 $900 million isn’t enough? Grail merges with Chinese company, Cirina
5:42 Genomic autopsies
7:59 Survey shows half of double mastectomies unnecessary
14:02 Ancestry.com changes terms and conditions
18:45 Henri Termeer 1946 - 2017
Is Grail already merging? Genomic autopsies? Does the House's new healthcare bill turn mere genetic risk into pre-conditions? Nathan and Laura are back to find meaning in the rush of May's headlines.
Laura cites a disturbing survey of over 2,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer that found half of them had unnecessary double mastectomies after genetic testing. She says unabashedly, “In big letters, it’s an ADVERTSIMENT FOR GENETIC COUNSELING.”
Speaking of alarms, Nathan says attorney Joel Winston’s blog against Ancestry.com’s terms and conditions was fear mongering.
We end with comments on the passing of one of the creators of the orphan drug industry, Henri Termeer.
