The problematic side of precision medicine

Adopting the US National Research Council definition of ‘precision medicine’, I present some of the main quandaries posed by this approach to biomedical research and clinical practice. I briefly review: (i) how much information provided by PM is actually used; (ii) what we should know about PM; (iii) the patients-in-waiting question, and the corresponding medicalization of society. In ‘Precision medicine and precise drugs’, I discuss some ethical problems concerning PM and precise drugs. The main aim of this chapter, however, is to present a brief selection of socio-ethical and epistemological problems that should be discussed at public level to help medicine remain loyal to its commitment to improve the quality of life of present and future patients.