ETHICAL CHALLENGES OF GENETIC RESEARCH IN NURSING PRACTICE AND HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Today, genetic research plays an indispensable role in modern-day medicine because of precision medicine, preventive strategies for diseases, personal treatment, and public health care management. Genetic research has become more important in nursing and healthcare management practice and has led to ethical challenges. This comprehensive review synthesizes literature on the ethical challenges associated with genetic research, with particular attention to informed consent, autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, privacy, confidentiality, data security, ownership, family disclosure, discrimination, and equity. The review highlights that nurses play a critical role in genetic risk communication, patient education, shared decision-making, genetic counseling support, and family-centered care. At the management level, ethical implementation depends on strong governance systems, equitable access to genomic services, workforce preparedness, data stewardship, and sustainable policy frameworks. Ethical challenges in genomic healthcare should not be treated as isolated issues but as interconnected concerns affecting patients, families, professionals, institutions, and wider society. Responsible integration of genetic research requires transparent governance, interdisciplinary collaboration, genomic literacy, and equity-focused implementation. Strengthening ethical safeguards is essential to ensure that genomic innovation supports patient-centered care, public trust, and socially just healthcare outcomes.