Eight genetic testing firms in Hong Kong are under investigation for potentially overstating what talents and traits they can detect in children, the South China Morning Post reports.
According to the Morning Post, advertisements from some of these companies claim they can determine traits like optimism in a child to help parents guide their approach to raising that child. Hong Kong politician Ramon Yuen Hoi-man, a member of the Democratic Party, and his staff visited one of the companies, Re:health, and says that a taped conversation shows how one firm distorts its tests.
"These companies did not state the pros and cons as well as the limitations of the tests, yet they exaggerated the test impact, misleading customers," Yuen said, according to the Morning Post, adding this may violate the law.
Re:health said that its tests were up to standard and it believes their genetic tests can help people better understand their health.
Yuen also says that doctors endorsing the tests may violate codes of conduct, the Morning Post adds.