Segment 9: Who Should Order the Test?

Both Francisco J. Esteva, MD, PhD, and Daniel F. Hayes, MD, agree that the role of genetic counselors should be limited when order diagnostic tests in medical oncology.

While genetic counselors are important when dealing with healthy people and the risk of developing cancer, in medical oncology it is the oncologist who knows the role and limitations of these tests best, Dr Esteva said.

Dr Hayes agreed that when multiple people order tests, sometimes people who are not going to use it, the patient can get inconsistent or discordant results.