Ethical,Legal and Social Issues
GENC5006
Students will be provided with an overview of the current social, cultural, legal and ethical issues generated by the diagnosis or identification of risk for a genetic condition including privacy at the family and wider community levels, discrimination, ownership of genetic information, informed consent, genetic testing of children, professionalism and paternalism, access and equity to services, gene patenting, national and jurisdictional laws, regulations and guidelines governing genetics services delivery and practice and research ethics. Additionally, the associated psychosocial impact at both the individual and family levels will be explored, as well as the educational materials and tools developed to minimise the impact and assist in informed choice. At the societal level, the students will explore the issues associated with the developments and establishment of biobanks and genetic registers, the storage of genetic information and its access, the implementation of public health genetics programs and non-medical applications of genetic technologies including kinship testing and sport. Finally, students will explore challenges likely to be encountered due to the rapid developments and applications including whole genome scans and nanotechnologies.
Unit of study details
Unit of study level: Postgraduate
Credit points: 3
Commencing semesters: 10, 2
Further unit of study information
Unit of study handbook: GENC5006
Costs and scholarships information: Costs and Scholarships
Final dates to withdraw from units of study: Census Dates
Available for study abroad and exchange: No