Pannain B, Barberio C, Mininni T, Pannain M
University of Reggio Calabria, Policlinico Mater Domini, Catanzaro, Italie.
Acta Med Leg Soc (Liege). 1990;40:253-6.
Legal problems exist in regard to patent rights for new biotechnologies. Ethical problems arise in connection with the application of the technique to patients and with the possibility to cure embryos. The potentialities of preventive medicine have affected even hiring criteria, in that individuals who present enzymic deficiencies can be considered at risk when working in contact with certain substances. For example, firms could decide not to advance certain individuals to positions of responsibility on the grounds that they present the gene of familial hypercholesterolemia. It can be anticipated that the diagnostic potentialities of the recombinant DNA technique will be applied to the evaluation of risk for the stipulation of life insurance, and that further developments, permitting to determine the genetic predisposition for most diseases, would altogether nullify the basic principles of health- and life-insurance policies. An international committee will have to discuss these issues and to formulate deontological rules to regulate both the sphere of occupation and that of insurance.
新生物技术的专利权存在法律问题。该技术应用于患者以及治愈胚胎的可能性引发了伦理问题。预防医学的潜力甚至影响到了招聘标准，因为存在酶缺陷的个体在接触某些物质时可能被视为有风险。例如，公司可能会以某些人携带家族性高胆固醇血症基因为由，决定不让他们担任责任职位。可以预见，重组DNA技术的诊断潜力将被应用于人寿保险风险评估，而且随着进一步发展，能够确定大多数疾病的遗传易感性，这将完全颠覆健康保险和人寿保险政策的基本原则。一个国际委员会将不得不讨论这些问题，并制定道德准则来规范职业领域和保险领域。
