Biobancos, dados genéticos e proteção jurídico-penal da intimidade / Biobanks, genetic data and legal and criminal protection of privacy

O artigo trata da questão dos biobancos para pesquisa e dos aspectos jurídicos relacionados à proteção de dados genéticos dos sujeitos de pesquisa. Mais especificamente, além da definição de biobancos e dados genéticos, analisa-se os dados genéticos e testes genéticos e a relação médico-sujeito de pesquisa, bem como a proteção criminal da intimidade genética, sugerindo-se a criação de uma lei que regulamente a coleta, o acesso, a utilização e o armazenamento dos dados genéticos a fim de prevenir testes genéticos para fins médicos arbitrários (AU)

The article deals with the issue of biobanks for research and legal aspects related to the protection of genetic data of study subjects. More specifically, besides the definition of biobanks and genetic data, we analyze genetic data and genetic testing and the physician-subject relationship in research, as well as criminal protection of genetic privacy, suggesting the creation of a law that regulates the collection, access, use and storage of genetic data to prevent genetic testing for arbitrary medical purposes (AU)

Narrowing the gap of personalized medicine in emerging countries: the case of multiple endocrine neoplasias in Brazil

The finished version of the human genome sequence was completed in 2003, and this event initiated a revolution in medical practice, which is usually referred to as the age of genomic or personalized medicine. Genomic medicine aims to be predictive, personalized, preventive, and also participative (4Ps). It offers a new approach to several pathological conditions, although its impact so far has been more evident in mendelian diseases. This article briefly reviews the potential advantages of this approach, and also some issues that may arise in the attempt to apply the accumulated knowledge from genomic medicine to clinical practice in emerging countries. The advantages of applying genomic medicine into clinical practice are obvious, enabling prediction, prevention, and early diagnosis and treatment of several genetic disorders. However, there are also some issues, such as those related to: (a) the need for approval of a law equivalent to the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, which was approved in 2008 in the USA; (b) the need for private and public funding for genetics and genomics; (c) the need for development of innovative healthcare systems that may substantially cut costs (e.g. costs of periodic medical followup); (d) the need for new graduate and postgraduate curricula in which genomic medicine is emphasized; and (e) the need to adequately inform the population and possible consumers of genetic testing, with reference to the basic aspects of genomic medicine.

Patenting of human genetic material v. bioethics: revisiting the case of John Moore v. Regents of the University of California.

Moore v. Regents of the University of California was one of the first cases internationally that dealt with the patenting of human genetic material. The case is closely related to the development of medicine and of biotechnology applied to medicine. These developments require the utilisation of human body parts, both for experiments and for transplant, and present certain major medico-legal problems. However, the case did not produce conclusive decisions on the various key legal issues that it raised involved in biomedical research and the patenting of human genetic material. This article re-examines the case from an Indian and an international perspective. After a brief introduction in Part I, Part II of the article describes existing laws in various countries with respect to the patenting of human genetic material. Part III discusses legal regimes applicable in the context of biological materials. Part IV elaborates on the importance of the doctrine of informed consent in the context of biomedical research on human subjects. Part V discusses the significance of bioethics in research and the patenting of biotechnology, according to international law. Part VI concludes the article with an assertion of the urgent need for legislation in this area

Información genética, intimidad y discriminación / Genetic information, intimacy and discriminaton

Las ventajas de la existencia de exámenes genéticos son muchas. Sin embargo, la información genética, mal utilizada, puede afectar la intimidad personal y familiar, generando, incluso, discriminación. En consecuencia, los datos derivados del genoma de una persona y de su familia son confidenciales y deben estar sujetos a medidas de seguridad adecuados, debiendo ser utilizados según los fines para los cuales fueron recabados y no deben ser cedidos a terceros, salvo consentimiento expreso del interesado o en virtud de mandamiento judicial. En términos similares se han pronunciado, por lo demás, la Declaracion Universal sobre el Genoma Humano y los Derechos Humanos y el Consejo de Europa.