The human genome: lessons for life, love and the law.
In 2003, the Australian Law Reform Commission and the Australian Health Ethics Committee (of the National Health and Medical Research Council) completed a major inquiry into the Protection of Human Genetic Information, focusing on privacy protection; protection against unlawful discrimination based on genetic status; and the establishment and maintenance of high ethical standards. The joint inquiry considered these matters across a wide range of contexts, with the final report, Essentially Yours, making 144 recommendations in such diverse areas as medical research; clinical genetic services; genetic research databases; employment; insurance; immigration; sport; parentage testing; and law enforcement. This article discusses some of the major themes that emerged in the course of the inquiry and underpinned the broad-based strategy adopted to prepare Australia for the challenges of the "New Genetics".
Weisbrot
David
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Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland.
D001315:Australia; D032984:Ethics, Research; D030661:Genetic Privacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D011287:Prejudice; D011640:Public Policy