title: Personalized medicine and access to genetic technologies.
abstract: Personalized medicine started after the Human Genome Project and is a relatively new concept that will dramatically change clinical practice. It offers clear clinical advantages by applying genetic diagnostic tests and then treating the patient with targeted medicines based on his or her genetic make-up. Its potential seems promising but there are quite a few legal concerns. One of these questions deals with the right to health care and access to genetic technologies. In this paper, the author explains the meaning of such a right to health care under international human rights law, its relevance for making genetic services eligible for public funding, how to cope with quality concerns of commercial testing, and finally, the patentability controversy and clinical access to genetic information. Apart from more traditional human rights concerns (consent, privacy, confidentiality) and genetics, States should be aware of the meaning of the equal access concept under international law and its consequences when introducing new technologies such genetic testing and services.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. denexter@bmg.eur.nl
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: den Exter
mesh_terms: D005380:Financing, Government; D005821:Genetic Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D010330:Patents as Topic; D057285:Precision Medicine / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics