9780521529075 Genetics, Health Care and Public Policy

Genetics, Health Care and Public Policy is an introduction to the new discipline of public health genetics. It brings together the insights of genetic and molecular science as a means of protecting and improving the health of the population. Its scope is wide and requires an understanding of genetics, epidemiology, public health and the principles of ethics, law and the social sciences. This book sets out the basic principles of public health genetics for a wide audience from those providing health care to those involved in establishing policy. The emphasis throughout the text is on providing an accessible introduction to the field. The content moves from the basic concepts, including definitions and history, through chapters on genetics, genetic technology, epidemiology, genetics in medicine, genetics in health services, ethical, legal and social implications, to the implications for health policy. It provides one-stop, introductory coverage of this rapidly developing and multidisciplinary field.