Past Event

What Would You Do? Genetic Testing and Life Decisions

View this event and others in the Future Perfect series on-line or on television via the Illinois Channel.

Genetic testing provides us with new, useful, yet complex information about the future health of ourselves and our families.

How do we decide who gets tested and what we do with test results?

Our panelists will illuminate some of the challenges of these decisions and offer suggestions for how to sort through the ethical, medical, and social considerations involved in genetic testing.

Free Street, a youth theater company, will present fictional scenarios of families and individuals dealing with the challenging decisions around genetic testing. The program also features excerpts from Kartemquin Films’ forthcoming documentary In the Family–Chicago filmmaker Joanna Rudnick’s exploration of genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Audience Members will respond to and discuss the theatrical scenes, the documentary film, and the panelists’ presentations in small groups.

Panelists


  • Dr. Wendy Rubinstein,Medical Director of the Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Center for Medical Genetics and Assistant Professor at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine
  • Joanna Rudnick, Director of Development, Producer, Kartemquin Films
  • Dr. Mark Sheldon, Assistant Dean, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences; College Lecturer in Philosophy; and in the Medical Ethics and Humanities Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University (moderator and presenter)
  • Dr. Marion S. Verp, Associate Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago

Thisevent is presented in partnership with the American Medical Association, Chicago Center for Jewish Genetic Disorders, Illinois Institute of Technology, and National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC).

Thisevent is made possible in part through the support of The Michael Reese Health Trust.

Reservations required. Reservations can be made on-line, via email, or by calling 312.422.5580.

Genetics

If you need a sign interpreter or require other arrangements to fully participate, please call 312.422.5580. For parking locations near the facility, please visit Chicago Parking Map.com.