• Katharina Mader

1998 Spring Conference:
19.–20.3.1998, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler

According to the present state of research, predicative diagnostics is expected to become one of the areas in which research in human genetics will develop direct opportunities for clinical application. Crucial ethical questions, however, will come up immediately when a diagnosable genetic disease occurs. Such questions include: What are the consequences of a particular genetic disposition regarding a disease? Are our present legal and voluntary means sufficient? When is a genetic examination regarding genetic diseases advisable, if though there is presently no suitable therapy? Who has a right of information about the individual genome? How can a “forced diagnosis” of relatives be prevented? Does the patient have the right not to know? How could this be made operational? What is the meaning of patient autonomy and informed consent in predicative diagnostics? Are serial examinations in a socially acceptable way feasible? Does predicative diagnostics lead to a development of strategies of somatic gene therapy?

Speakers:
Professor Dr. Claus Bartram (Universität Heidelberg) “Prädiktive Diagnostik von Krankheiten. Eine interdisziplinäre Aufgabe”, Dr. jur. Hans-Georg Koch (Max-Planck-Institut für ausländisches und internationales Strafrecht Freiburg i. Br.) “Humangenetik und Recht”, Professor Dr. med. Eberhard Passarge (Universitätsklinikum Essen) “Krankheiten des Menschen aus genetischen Ursachen”, Professor Dr. phil. Armin Wildfeuer (Fachhochschule für Sozialwesen Paderborn) “Menschenwürde und prädiktive Diagnostik”, Professor Dr. Carl Friedrich Gethmann (Europäischen Akademie) “Krankheit als ethisches Kriterium?”.