Angelina Jolie is perhaps the first highly visible public figure to “endorse” the idea of gene screening and make a very personal, radical medical decision as a result.

The May 14 New York Times featured an op-ed from recognized actress Angelina Jolie, entitled “My Medical Choice.” The piece recapped why she had her genes sequenced, and why she made the decision to undergo prophylactic bilateral mastectomy upon finding that she carried a very high-risk mutation in her BRCA gene. That mutation gave her a high likelihood of getting the same type of cancer that killed her mother.

Ms. Jolie is perhaps the first highly visible public figure to “endorse” the idea of gene screening and make a very personal, radical medical decision as a result. Her decision is a poignant example of the recent trend toward consumer-driven healthcare, wherein consumers take on a partnership role with their doctor in making major decisions, informed by science, which will greatly impact their future.

This trend will only accelerate as more technologies like whole genome sequencing are developed to aid in the decision-making process. As consumers gain increased access to medical information, they are more proactively seeking solutions that work for their personal circumstances.

The challenge for all of us in the health care industry is to embrace this empowered patient—and to work with them to ensure that they are part of making the best decision for their individual situation.  Embracing patient empowerment implies new attitudes for physicians and health care providers, as well as new economic considerations for hospitals, insurance companies, and service providers.

It should be noted that Jolie was among the minority of the population who can currently afford to seek the data, information, and counsel she needed to help her make her medical choices based on her established family risks.

However, as technology evolves and expanded uses for genetic testing helps to drive industry-wide economies of scale, these types of tests will become more broadly available to everyone. Ultimately, these tests and the medical care that they enable will become a routine part of mainstream care for all.