Regional meeting focuses on ethical, legal issues around genetic research
HILARY BURN
News Writer
As scientists raced to sequence the human genome, they left a multitude of ethical and legal issues in their wake. At Notre Dame this weekend, health care professionals, educators, lawyers, researchers, students and clergy wrestled with those issues and discussed how health care will be affected by medical genetics and the human genome.
The Second Annual North Central Indiana Consortium on "Clinical, Ethical and Legal Issues in Medical Genetics" included seven speakers and three panel discussions. Notable speakers were Dr. Charles Epstein, professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Neil Holtzman, professor of pediatrics, health policy and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University and Dr. Ellen Clayton, director of the Genetics and Health Law Policy Institute at Vanderbilt University.
"Universities are the best place to hold these conferences so that you can not only attract health care professionals, but also students and faculty who may be interested in the subjects," said Dr. Rudolph Navari, conference chair and associate dean of Notre Dame's College of Science. "Many students and faculty attended because medical genetics is a `hot topic' in science right now with the publishing of the human genome last week."
The fruits of that research will have great implications down the road, according to Sheri Alpert, assistant director of the science, technology and values program.
"Genetics won't revolutionize medicine in my lifetime," Alpert said. "Your lifetime [as an undergrad], however, is another matter. I think that it's possible that in your `medicare years,' genetics and genetics-based diagnostics will be more of a possibility."
Of the 150 people who attended the conference, 25 were Notre Dame students.
"Notre Dame has an essential role in the field of medical ethics: to give a general and Catholic perspective on critical issues in this field," Navari said.
The conference was the result of the collaboration of Notre Dame and the local community. Four Notre Dame professors, along with health care professionals from Saint Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Ancilla Health Care, Memorial Hospital of South Bend and the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care were involved in the planning committee.
The 50 local physicians and nurses who attended received credit towards the continuing medical education required to maintain their state licenses. This conference ensures they will be up-to-date on the latest genetic issues that will affect their patients.
Next week, Notre Dame will provide another opportunity to discuss ethical issues in science. The Third National Bioethics Undergraduate Conference will be held March 1-3. The conference is divided into four half-day sessions: The Nature of Bioethics, The Human Genome Project, Care for the Dying and International Bioethics.
All News Stories for Monday, February 26, 2001
