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Ethics of genetics

'Designer babies', stem cells and the role of genetic testing in insurance and the workplace are just some of the many difficult ethical issues raised by advances in genetics.

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Image for Nuffield Council publishes supplement to report on genetic screening
Nuffield Council publishes supplement to report on genetic screening
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics has published a major supplement to the 1993 report 'Genetic Screening: ethical issues'. 17/08/06
Image for Joint Committee guidance on consent and confidentiality in gentic practice
Joint Committee guidance on consent and confidentiality in gentic practice
The Joint Committee on Medical Genetics has published guidance on genetic testing and sharing genetic information. 28/06/06
Image for Human rights, privacy and medical research
Human rights, privacy and medical research
A report on human rights, privacy and medical research has recently been published by John Gillott and the Genetics Interest Group. 01/06/06
Image for Hinxton Group calls for international ethical standards in stem cell research
Hinxton Group calls for international ethical standards in stem cell research
A group of about 60 leading international scientists, journal editors, regulators and bioethicists has published a consensus statement calling for an international set of ethical standards in stem cell research. 27/02/06
Image for HGC reports on reproductive decision-making and genetic technologies
HGC reports on reproductive decision-making and genetic technologies
The Human Genetics Commission has released their report, Making Babies: Reproductive decisions and genetic technologies. 31/01/06
Image for Law Lords back saviour siblings ruling
Law Lords back saviour siblings ruling
Law Lords rule that the HFEA acted lawfully in allowing the Hashmi family to use pre-implantation tissue-typing to select tissue matched embryos for their son. 29/04/05
Image for Moratorium on the use of genetic information in insurance extended
Moratorium on the use of genetic information in insurance extended
The UK Government and the Association of British Insurers have agreed to extend the existing voluntary moratorium on the use of predictive genetic test results by insurers by five years, to 2011. 15/03/05
Image for Report on the social and ethical issues of the National DNA database
Report on the social and ethical issues of the National DNA database
Researchers from the University of Durham have published an independent report on the legal and ethical issues raised by the use of the National DNA Database. 09/11/04
Image for Data privacy may not be 'technically' feasible for pharmacogenetics studies
Data privacy may not be 'technically' feasible for pharmacogenetics studies
Researchers in the USA have raised questions about the feasibility of keeping data about individuals in genetic databases confidential. 07/09/04
Image for Debate over genetic profiling of newborns
Debate over genetic profiling of newborns
Meeting in Bristol hears from ALSPAC. 20/05/04
Image for Australians create their first 'designer baby'
Australians create their first 'designer baby'
Sibling with exact tissue match for boy with immune disease. 11/03/04
Image for Genetics and Insurance Committee publishes second report
Genetics and Insurance Committee publishes second report
Considering genetic tests and the insurance industry. 28/01/04
Image for EC ethics advisory body publishes newsletter 'Ethically Speaking'
EC ethics advisory body publishes newsletter 'Ethically Speaking'
European national ethics committees detail their objectives and past and current work. 06/01/04
Image for Pharmacogenetics and ethics
Pharmacogenetics and ethics
The Nuffield Council reports. 29/09/03
Image for Workplace genetic testing
Workplace genetic testing
EU ethics group advises against use of genetic testing in the workplace. 20/08/03
Image for UNESCO moves towards declaration on human genetic data
UNESCO moves towards declaration on human genetic data
A UNESCO committee has drafted a declaration on safeguards needed to prevent misuse of human genetic information. 14/07/03
Image for UK Government responds to 'Inside information'
UK Government responds to 'Inside information'
The Government broadly welcomes the Human Genetics Commission's report on genetic information, and points out that several recommendations have already been acted upon. 27/06/03
Image for Australian inquiry on genetic information publishes final report
Australian inquiry on genetic information publishes final report
Two year inquiry results in comprehensive report on the protection of human genetic information in Australia. 13/06/03
Image for UK BioBank ethics advisory group announced
UK BioBank ethics advisory group announced
Membership announced for an Interim Advisory Group that will advise the funders of UK BioBank on ethics and governance issues. 14/02/03
Image for High Court upholds challenge to use of preimplantation genetic diagnosis with tissue typing
High Court upholds challenge to use of preimplantation genetic diagnosis with tissue typing
Arguments continue over the preimplantation genetic diagnosis of an embryo unaffected by beta-thalassaemia and a tissue match for an existing son. 31/01/03
Image for Lords debate their Committee's report on stem cell research
Lords debate their Committee's report on stem cell research
The House of Lords debate - and vote to accept - the 2002 report published by its Select Committee on Stem Cell Research. 10/12/02
Image for Report on use of personal medical data in health research
Report on use of personal medical data in health research
A new Nuffield Trust report looks at the background, law and ethical issues of the use of personal medical data in health research. 29/11/02
Image for Nuffield Council on Bioethics issues report on behavioural genetics research
Nuffield Council on Bioethics issues report on behavioural genetics research
Bioethics group supports behavioural genetics research but advocates caution in its application. 03/10/02