1. Genetic Medicine
  2. How can MDVIP use Navigenics

How can MDVIP use Navigenics Test for Medicine?

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I have been harping on this say what you mean. Say what you do. Theme lately.


I am a board certified doctor who practices personalized medicine. I see patients and apply the principles or pharmacogenomics, risk prediction and prevention tailored to each individual patient. I do this by taking a 3 generation pedigree, using current clinical risk models and pharmacogenomic or other genetic tests when indicated. That's me.

I have this nagging pain about MDVIP, Ed Goldman and Navigenics.

Some MDVIP members are using Navigenics tests for medical risk prediction. Navigenics is ok with this because hey, they're doctors.


The contents of our Site, including any risk estimates or other reports generated by the Services (collectively, "Your Report") and any other information, data, analyses, editorial content, images, audio and video clips, hyperlinks and references (collectively, "Content"), are for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

The part I want to focus on is "Are for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment"

It seems to me that this will be the more popular language in a Terms of Service for DTCG.
Notice that nowhere does it say, "This report is not intended to diagnose or treat"

I think that while it is nice to not say that, when in fact people are using it to diagnose, it is even goofier to say that it is not intended to substitute for a professional's diagnosis. Ok, so are you saying

1. This is not to be used for diagnosis/medical advice
2. This is to be used for diagnosis, but the professional's diagnosis trumps ours
3. This test is meant to be used by professionals to aid them in diagnosis and treatment

I am really confused here. Is this a medical test or not. Just come right out and say it!

The Sherpa Says: Say what you do, do what you say you do. Isn't that what the Common Framework of Principles is About?

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  1. Genetic Medicine
  2. How can MDVIP use Navigenics