What are the key international policy positions addressing human genetic research?
• The World Health Organization (WHO) in its report entitled Genomics and World Health: Report of the Advisory Committee on Health Research recognizes the potential benefits of human genetic research and plans for a better collaboration between countries; so that all can benefit from the advantages. In addition, it addresses the question of patenting. • The World Medical Association’s (WMA) Declaration of Helsinki – Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects aims at providing guidelines for researchers. It mentions that the preservation of human dignity, privacy, and integrity must be at the heart of considering research involving human subjects. It also states that free and informed consent must be obtained and that prospective benefits of research must outweigh the risks and inconveniences.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) in its report entitled Genomics and World Health: Report of the Advisory Committee on Health Research (2002) recognizes the potential benefits of human genetic research and plans for a better collaboration between countries; so that all can benefit from the advantages. In addition, it addresses the question of patenting. • The World Medical Association’s (WMA, 2008) Declaration of Helsinki – Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects aims at providing guidelines for researchers. It mentions that the preservation of human dignity, privacy, and integrity must be at the heart of considering research involving human subjects. It also states that free and informed consent must be obtained and that prospective benefits of research must outweigh the risks and inconveniences. • The International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects by the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS
