Posts tagged Ethics
Harvard Wants Your Genome, But Warns of the Privacy Risks
Oct 20th
Harvard University’s Personal Genome Project is seeking volunteers willing to “share their genome sequence and other personal information with the scientific community and the general public.”
In 2001, Harvard’s Human Genome Project made history by releasing the first draft of a complete human genome. Now Harvard is seeking 99,999 volunteers who are willing to ‘show’ their genomes in public as part of its Personal Genome Project.
The Personal Genome Project is premised on the notion that “many individuals will want to get their own genome sequenced so that they may use this information to understand such things as their individual risk profiles for disease, their physical and biological characteristics, and their personal ancestries. To get to this point will require a critical mass of interested users, tools for obtaining and interpreting genome information, and supportive policy, research, and service communities. To catalyze these developments, [Harvard] launched the Personal Genome Project.”
While potential participants may be understandably excited about the possibility of being part of history, they should proceed with caution. As the Personal Genome Project warns, an individual with enough knowledge and malicious intent may use a participant’s genome information to (as quoted below) cause a great deal of mischief, including the following:
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Tomorrow’s blog will address a recent federal law that is aimed at mitigating some of the potential harm that could come to one if his or her genetic information becomes known.
Disclaimer: The information contained within the MTBC® Learning Center is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The author of the Learning Center does not represent the Web site user or the individual submitting a particular question. Please seek the advice of legal counsel to address any specific questions you may have regarding your particular facts or circumstances
Legislators and Researchers Question Direct-to-Consumer Ads
Sep 5th
As we have discussed in prior blogs, state lawmakers throughout the country are debating increased restrictions on the pharmaceutical industry’s ability to promote its pharmaceutical products to physicians. The industry has voluntarily responded by adopting various rules, including capping the amount of money that pharmaceutical representatives can spend promoting drugs to healthcare providers.
Pharmaceutical industry analysts have noted that the industry has been focusing increased efforts on direct-to-consumer advertisements. In fact, this trend has caused increased scrutiny from the United States Congress. Some members of Congress have even introduced legislation banning all direct-to-consumer advertising during the first three years following drug approval.
Lawmakers are not the only ones scrutinizing direct-to-consumer ads. A recent study examined the effectiveness of this advertising and concluded that the billions of dollars being spent on such advertising may be having very little impact upon consumers.
To listen to a recent report regarding this research that was recently reported on NPR’s Marketplace®, please click the radio to the right.
To read the details of the PHRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals, click here.
Disclaimer: The information contained within the MTBC® Learning Center is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The author of the Learning Center does not represent the Web site user or the individual submitting a particular question. Please seek the advice of legal counsel to address any specific questions you may have regarding your particular facts or circumstances
North Carolina to Publish Data Regarding “Confidential” Med Mal Settlements
Sep 2nd
Under a new North Carolina regulation, details regarding North Carolina medical malpractice settlements will soon be posted online for patients to view.
Confidential out-of-court settlements have long been the option of choice for medical malpractice defendants in North Carolina and elsewhere. However, if the North Carolina Board of Medical Examiners gets its way, North Carolina providers will be required to provide details regarding every medical malpractice settlement pursuant to which the provider or his or her insurance carrier paid the plaintiff $25,000 or more. Likewise, information must be provided regarding litigation that results in the entry of a monetary judgment. These details will then be posted on the Medical Examiner’s website so that the data can be reviewed by patients and other members of the public.
Under the new law, the following information must be provided regarding all settlements dating back to October 1, 2007, regardless of whether or not the parties’ settlement agreement contained a confidentiality provision:
- The date the judgment or settlement was paid.
- The specialty in which the doctor was practicing at the time the incident occurred that resulted in the judgment or settlement.
- The total amount of the judgment or settlement in United States dollars.
- The city, state, and country in which the judgment or settlement occurred.
- The date of the occurrence of the events leading to the judgment or settlement.
The North Carolina Board of Medical Examiners estimates that the new information will be available online in approximately one year. However, according to news reports, it is possible that North Carolina’s legislature will take action invalidating the new regulations before this information becomes available to the public.
Disclaimer: The information contained within the MTBC® Learning Center is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The author of the Learning Center does not represent the Web site user or the individual submitting a particular question. Please seek the advice of legal counsel to address any specific questions you may have regarding your particular facts or circumstances