News Briefs: Genetic info could be released in Australia

Australian doctors would be allowed to release details of a patient’s serious genetic illnesses to other family members without permission under new joint recommendations from the country’s Australian Health Ethics Committee and Australian Law Reform Commission.

After an 18-month investigation, both bodies released a 920-page discussion paper recommending appropriate privacy protections for genetic information.

Among the other proposals is the formation of a new body to be known as the Human Genetics Commission of Australia, which would advise governments and industry on genetics and assist in clarifying and coordinating the existing different laws, guidelines in practices already in place.

Other recommendations include:

• Privacy laws to cover genetic samples and genetic information, with doctors given authority to disclose otherwise confidential genetic information to a genetic relative where failure to disclose would place that person’s life at serious risk.
• Employers be banned from gathering and using genetic information from employees, except in very limited circumstances.
• Existing genetic test information to continue to be made available to insurers for the purpose of underwriting, but not with the approval of the commission. t