1. What were the factors which influenced the development of genetic counseling as a profession in the United States?
The history and evolution of genetic counseling as a clinical practice has met its challenges throughout its development. From the beginning, the genetic counseling term and profession has been connected with medical genetics and medical geneticists. Several historic steps that led to the creation of genetic counselor as a separate profession are: formation of a specialized master's level training program, certification process governed by counselors, establishment of an independent society, formation of a society journal, along with partnership with working hospitals, affiliations and medical geneticists in different subspecialties.
From the beginning, even coining the term 'genetic counselor', it has been a challenge already. There were backlash regarding the qualifications of counselors. It was such a difficult period during the formation of the society. It was such a difficult duty to have to define and defend their place in the medical genetics community.
Genetic counseling based from my readings is not just handling the clinical aspects of genetics regarding the patient in the family. It was good however that a psychosocial basis was stressed as part of counseling. The conception of a master's degree genetic counseling program was made true in 1969. This paved the way to allow the acceptance of genetic counselor as a profession, separate from the clinicians/ physicians. It was through the brave and determined people who was able to stand strong despite differences in opinion of renowned geneticists/ clinicians.
Since then, genetic counseling as a field has been expanding. As the underlying genetic cause of disease become clearer, genetic counselors are now accepted and diversified. This is essential as the demand is increasing for better counseling services and the need for counseling services and its delivery. I believe genetic counselor as a profession, will continue to adapt along with the current advances of genetics and its branches.
2. Comparing with the situation in the Philippines, how different would you think the course of development of genetic counseling would be in the country? Explain.
I believe that the development of genetic counseling in the country has met its challenges during its formative stages to what it is now. Although not as much as the ones faced in the US, it still has difficulty in starting it. I believe since we are a developing country, the challenges of the development of this profession came more on the funding side. Genetic counseling as a profession is already established due to the perseverance of the founders of genetic counseling in the Philippines. Currently, there are several genetic counselors already who have graduated the master's-level program of genetic counseling. Although there is a paucity of counselors in the country to serve the population of the country, it is already a start. It is a good thing that genetic counselors are already an accepted profession in the country and it is already diversified to include professions other than physicians to do the counseling.