IN 2010, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE PAINTED A GRIM PICTURE of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic services that fueled debates and signaled regulatory action (www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-847T). Now, online genetics services that offer tests to users without the involvement of a clinician have become a bone of contention in Europe as well. At the same time, European bioethics commissions and professional bodies are grappling with ethical and legal concerns. In 2012, the European Academies of Science Advisory Council (EASAC) and the Federation of European Academies of Medicine (FEAM) jointly published a report that addresses scientific, regulatory, and ethical issues related to DTC genetic testing for health purposes. This report-the farthest-reaching one thus far in terms of organizations and countries represented-set out to pursue a balanced approach that avoids both overregulation and "relinquishing strategy-setting to the private sector" (www.easac.eu).
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