Ethical Principles, Constraints, and Opportunities in Clinical Proteomics

Recent advances in MS-based proteomics have vastly increased the quality and scope of biological information that can be derived from human samples. These advances have rendered current workflows increasingly applicable in biomedical and clinical contexts. As proteomics is poised to take an important role in the clinic, associated ethical responsibilities increase in tandem with impacts on the health, privacy, and well-being of individuals. We conducted and here report a systematic literature review of ethical issues in clinical proteomics. We add our perspectives from a background of bioethics, the results of our accompanying article extracting individual-sensitive results from patient samples, and the literature addressing similar issues in genomics. The spectrum of potential issues ranges from patient reidentification to incidental findings of clinical significance. The latter can be divided into actionable and unactionable findings. Some of these have the potential to be employed in discriminatory or privacy-infringing ways. However, incidental findings may also have great positive potential. A plasma proteome profile, for instance, could inform on the general health or disease status of an individual regardless of the narrow diagnostic question that prompted it. We suggest that early discussion of ethical issues in clinical proteomics can ensure that eventual health care practices and regulations reflect the considered judgment of the community and anticipate opportunities and problems that may arise as the technology matures.

Automated summary

Recent advances in MS-based proteomics have greatly enhanced the quality and range of biological information available from human samples. Proteomics is becoming increasingly relevant in biomedical and clinical contexts, leading to a rise in ethical responsibilities regarding the impact on individual health, privacy, and well-being. Discussions on ethical issues in clinical proteomics is essential to ensure that healthcare practices and regulations are well-informed and anticipate potential opportunities and challenges as technology continues to advance.