Introduction: Whether or not to notify women of their breast density is a complex ethical issue with different stakeholders taking diverse perspectives..
Methods: To explore the ethical and legal considerations associated with breast density notification, an Australian national stakeholder engagement workshop was conducted, attended by experts in breast density, breast cancer screening, clinical ethics, and the law, as well as patients and clinicians.
Results: Central ethical themes associated with breast density notification are equitable care, patient autonomy in decision-making, trust in health professionals, duty of care by the physician, and uncertainties around evidence relating to measurement and clinical management pathways for women with dense breasts. Legal guidance on this issue must be gained from broad legal principles found in the law of negligence and the test of materiality.
Conclusion: A rigid legal framework for breast density notification in Australia would not be appropriate. Instead, a policy framework should be developed through engagement with all stakeholders to understand and take account of multiple perspectives and the values at stake.
Journal of Clinical Medicine 2020. Full text here.
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