Medical Ethics and Genetics in Cuba

ABSTRACT

In the Cuban National Center of Medical Genetics, a national-reference Medical Ethics Committee was created in 2003 for Medical Genetics services. For the last 5 years, when carrying out its missions –namely elaboration of institutional procedures and guidelines, advising on decisions related to research on the human genome and genetic diseases, and ethical educationthis committee has been involved in developing methodologies for clinical practice of Medical Genetics services in Cuba, assessing research projects, advising the Ministry of Public Health on issues related to Ethics and Genetics, and in all aspects related to research in the field of the Human Genome in the country.The national-reference Ethics Committee has prepared a number of governing documents such as the ethical principles that should be met when conducting diagnostic genetic tests, the ethical and legal considerations on Human Genome research, and the ethical regulations for DNA banks and samples stored for genetic studies. All these rules are applied at the National Network of Medical Genetic Services in Cuba.These materials are antecedent to the Resolution of the Minister of Public Health No 219 dated 2007 (“Ethical Standards to protect the genetic information of Cuban citizens who either participate in research or undergo assistance diagnoses in which there is access to data related to the individual and his/her relatives, as well as biological material from which DNA…(AU)