Within your group, discuss and provide a written answer to the following questions.

Instructions:
Maximum word count: 200 words/question.
Deadline: Upload your responses to Canvas 1 week after class
Select a group moderator who coordinates the discussion
Select a group scribe who records the group responses on a shared document
Read the case your group has been allocated and respond to the following questions:

1. How would you explain DNA and genetics to a patient considering undergoing
pharmacogenomic testing?
2. How would you explain the mechanisms through which the body metabolises and disposes
of drugs to a patient considering undergoing pharmacogenomic testing?
3. For this case study, how would you explain to a patient the impact their genes have on drug
response?
4. Knowing the results of the genetic test in this case study: what would you recommend to the
patient? (change drugs? change dose? do not change?)
5. For the genetic test in this case study: is the test medicare-funded? Does the government
grant equal access to this test?
6. What are the considerations of this patient’s pharmacogenomic results for other family
members (if any)?
7. Some of the case studies mention ethnicity of the patient. Discuss why this is important and
the role that a person’s race/ethnicity/ancestry could have on their genes, and how this
relates to drug response.

If time permits, discuss the following additional questions in your group (you don’t need to record
your responses to these in the shared document):

1. Have a general discussion about your knowledge/training in pharmacogenomics (for

pharmacy students: how much training in genetics do you receive? For genetic counselling
students: how much training in pharmacy and pharmacokinetics do you receive?)
2. Discuss whether you agree/disagree with the following statements:
• Pharmacogenomic counselling is within the scope of genetic counselling practice
• Pharmacogenomic counselling should only be handled by pharmacists
• Pharmacogenomic counselling should only be handled by genetic counsellors
• Pharmacogenomic counselling should be handled jointly by both pharmacists and
genetic counsellors