78105 Genetics and the Law

This subject examines the scope and limitations of existing regulation of genetic technologies with respect to humans. It also considers recent scientific and technological innovations in the area of human genetics and the role and effectiveness of law in managing these new developments. The role of law as a means to control both the development of new genetic technologies and the utilisation of existing technologies is also evaluated. This includes a specific focus on individual decision-making versus responsibility for genetic risk, individual versus group rights, genetic privacy, genetic discrimination, reproductive autonomy, and ownership and control of genetic information and research developments.

Specific issues covered include regulatory limits on the use of genetic screening including of adults, children and newborns; prenatal genetic testing and genetic testing of adults and children; the regulation of genetic registers, protecting genetic information privacy and the problem of familial information; measures to control genetic discrimination in employment and insurance; the regulation of genetic research through the NHMRC guidelines and other means; regulation of genetics in medical research including gene therapy, inheritable genetic modification, stem cell research and human somatic cell nuclear transfer (cloning technologies); and the establishment of biobanks and the concept of genomic property.