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HGC submits evidence to House of Lords Genomic Medicine Inquiry

In March 2008 the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee launched an inquiry into genome technologies and their actual and potential impact on clinical practice.

The HGC's evidence tho this inquiry acknowledges significant advances and the great potential of genomic medicine to have a beneficial impact on healthcare.  However, it warns that careful attention must be given to the introduction into clinical practice of genetic tests for disease susceptibiility and identifies a need to support evaluation of these tests as part of a defined clinical pathway.  Misleading marketing of these tests directly to the public continues to be a matter of concern.

Whilst the collection and use of genomic information in research is essential to advance understanding of drug response and underlying susceptibility to disease, the response also draws attention to the potential for genomic information to give rise to discrimination.  It therefore identifies the need for a reconsideration of sanctions for the misuse of gentic information and greater protection for those whose genetic information is held on databases.

Read the HGC's full submission here.

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