In an initiative that could signal a shift in how we approach genetic predispositions to sudden death, the New York City medical examiner’s office is set to launch a new service for at-risk families. Dubbed the Genetic Intervention Family Testing Services (GIFTS) program, the office will start offering free genetic testing to living relatives of individuals who died suddenly from inherited conditions, potentially pivoting the role of a medical examiner’s office from postmortem analysis to proactive prevention, according to Gothamist.
Designed to help prevent further loss within families affected by genetic diseases, this program will be the country's first where a medical examiner's office directly tests living patients. Despite investigating about 40,000 deaths annually, the molecular genetics laboratory of the examiner's office is poised to perform about 500 molecular autopsies every year, pointing to genetic causes in around 100 cases, as told to Gothamist by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jason Graham. These conditions that are culprits behind sudden deaths—like epilepsy and various cardiac arrhythmias—could potentially be mitigated with early detection and treatment.
The already in-house capabilities which include next-generation sequencing play a critical role in this initiative, bringing to light possible inhereditary conditions without the limitations faced by other jurisdictions. Most other offices rely on private labs under a fee-for-service model that may only investigate specific suspected conditions, which can lead to inaccuracies, city officials have pointed out. This contrast illustrates the breadth of testing that will be available under the GIFTS program, with ABC7ny affirming that more than 300 genes are being analyzed for a plethora of diseases at the New York City medical examiner's office.
Expected to begin early next year, families need only provide a cheek swab for testing, whether by visiting the office or using a mailed-in kit. The program's holistic approach is bolstered by its convenience and cost-effectiveness, aiming to reach marginalized groups and tackle health inequity challenges within the city. "Having these answers for families is very important for them to at least knowing if they do have that increased risk, or maybe they can test negative and be reassured that they're not at this increased risk," Sarah Saxton, a genetic counselor at the medical examiner's office, explained to ABC7ny. Dr. Jason Graham has also emphasized the transformative potential of such direct, lifesaving work facilitated by the GIFTS program.
Backed by a $600,000 budget allocation, the medical examiner’s office plans to fuel this program with four lab scientists, an additional genetic counselor, and the necessary equipment. This comprehensive effort could serve as a model nationwide, remarked Dr. Michelle Jordan, a medical examiner in San Jose, California, and vice president of the National Association of Medical Examiners, highlighting the benefit to families, especially those without easy access to healthcare, as reported by Gothamist.
