Case Study

Ellen is a genetic counselor at a major university medical center where she provides hereditary cancer genetic counseling services.  Her next client, Jean, is a 35 year old Euro-American woman referred due to a family history of breast cancer.   In further review of Jean’s intake form, Ellen is surprised to note that Jean is deaf and that the session will be conducted with an American Sign Language interpreter.   Ellen has no previous experience providing genetic counseling services to people who are deaf.    

 

Personal Reflections

·         What concerns and biases might Ellen have going into the session?

·         What concerns and biases might Jean have going into the session?

·         How might the perspectives of the two individuals involved in this case differ? How might they be similar?

·         How might these perspectives impact the genetic counseling session?

·         What does it mean to be part of a culture?

·         How familiar are you with people who are deaf?

·         How do you think your experiences and perspectives would be different if you were deaf?

·         Consider your experiences and perspectives related to deafness and hearing loss.  Do you consider deafness to be a disability? 
       Why or why not?

·         How would you prepare for this genetic counseling case?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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