Ethics Governance
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| Article - Abstract. To view full article click on the article title. | |
eMJA: Ethical and legal issues and the "new genetics" Ethical and legal issues and the "new genetics". Although uniquely personal, the information from gene analyses impacts on parents, siblings, children and even entire ethnic groups. Doctors need to carefully balance the right of a patient to privacy against the wider family and society interests, consistent with ethical standards and their legal obligations. Doctors also need to be in a position to advise their patients of potential risks that may result from obtaining predictive genetic information, such as discrimination by third parties. While these issues are not new, they occur with new sharpness in the "new genetics", where clinicians have to be familiar not only with clinical significance, but also the ethical and legal implications of genetic analyses and information. In recent years there has been an explosion of knowledge in the science of genetics but often less general awareness of the ethical and legal implications of genetic advances. Fueled by sensationalist media reporting, developments are often exaggerated and create unrealistic expectations for the "new genetics".1 Medicine has a great capacity to test and screen for gene mutations, but currently little ability to cure the clinical consequences of these mutations. Full Article: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/178_11_020603/otl10682_fm.html |
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2006 Ethics-Governance.com |
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