title: [Rare diseases: specific ethical and legal aspects of genetic counseling and screening].
abstract: This article analyses the specific rights of patients with rare diseases from a dual perspective. On the one hand, they concern a new generation of patients' rights that arise once the consolidation of basic rights has occurred, fundamentally after the application of Law 41/2002 (on Regulating Patient Autonomy and Rights and Obligations in the Field of Health Documentation and Information) and its development by the autonomous communities. On the other hand, the fundamental question raises a serious issue related to these patients, which involves the principles of equality, equity, non-discrimination and solidarity. This is aimed at promoting legislative measures to protect patients' equality of access to health and social services, with the ultimate aim of improving their quality of life. The author has given special relevance in his study to the treatment of rare diseases that are genetic in origin, and to the importance of adequate genetic counseling.
authors.affiliation: Consejería de Sanidad, Comunidad de Madrid, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Caro
mesh_terms: D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D028701:Patient Rights; D035583:Rare Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control