Abstract
This is a book about the ethical concerns of a number of interested people concerning the control and legal status of genetic information. Those who use genetic information in their professional work are going to have to be as concerned about the rules and regulations of using this material as they now are about subjects such as patients' rights and privacy, the Data Protection Act and ethics committee procedures. This is a whole new maze of ethical, legal and administrative considerations.
The contributors are nearly all established authorities in ethics, philosophy or law. There are no contributions from “users”, such as police authorities, insurance companies or drug research units. The book seeks to describe areas of controversy and ethical dilemmas, and does so from the points of view of the contributors, rather than that of the end users.
Because genetics is a very rapidly expanding branch of science, with profound impact on most aspects of medical care, and because it is at the cutting edge of science, it is difficult for controlling legislation to keep up with what is required. In this book the balances between the right of the individual, that of the family and the common good of the community are discussed. So also are the obligations of the users of genetic information. Consent and informed consent rear their heads.
The role of the public in decision-making concerning genetic material is considered, and public involvement is politically correctly encouraged! The specific benefits and threats to women of genetic research are outlined.
This book is a serious review of where we are now, and where we may go from here, with the control and management of genetic information. It is certainly not an easy read for a simple physician, albeit one with a direct practical interest in both DNA and genetics. I would expect it to be required reading for those involved in developing future legislation concerning genetic material. To them it will be a valuable source of ideas and information.