Genetic Secrets

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The recent explosion of information from advances in genetic research brings significant scientific knowledge but also raises complex issues regarding privacy and confidentiality. This book offers a comprehensive exploration of these ethical, legal, and social challenges. Experts from various fields, including law, medicine, bioethics, and public health, examine the contexts in which genetic privacy issues arise, spanning research, clinical settings, workplaces, insurance offices, schools, and courts. The initial chapters establish a framework for analyzing genetic privacy, comparing it to other forms of medical privacy. Subsequent chapters address concerns in healthcare, such as the patient-physician relationship and genetic counseling, alongside the impact of new technologies like commercial genomics and forensic DNA applications. The book also explores nonmedical uses of genetic information, including workplace privacy laws and the implications of genetic testing for health and life insurance. A review of ethics and law in the U.S. and internationally is included. In the concluding chapter, Mark A. Rothstein critiques existing and proposed legislation on genetic privacy and confidentiality, offering new guidelines for policymakers to consider.