Return of individual research results and incidental findings in the clinical trials cooperative group setting.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded cooperative group cancer clinical trial system develops experimental therapies and often collects samples from patients for correlative research. The cooperative group bank (CGB) system maintains biobanks with a current policy not to return research results to individuals. An online survey was created, and 10 directors of CGBs completed the surveys asking about understanding and attitudes in changing policies to consider return of incidental findings (IFs) and individual research results (IRRs) of health significance. The potential impact of the 10 consensus recommendations of Wolf et al. presented in this issue are examined. Reidentification of samples is often not problematic; however, changes to the current banking and clinical trial systems would require significant effort to fulfill an obligation of recontact of subjects. Additional resources, as well as a national advisory board would be required to standardize implementation.

[Challenges for the universalization of clinical genetics: the Brazilian case]. / Desafios para a universalização da genética clínica: o caso brasileiro.

The present article deals with the difficulties of introducing medical genetics as part of the Brazilian public Unified Health System (SUS). A national policy of comprehensive care in medical genetics was established in 2009, having genetic counseling as a central pillar. However, there are strategic limitations to the implementation of this policy: a dearth of genetic counseling training programs, the lack of knowledge concerning the number of professionals available to provide genetic counseling, and the likely low number of professionals available for the job. A joint effort by the ministries of health and education is desirable to foster genetics and genetic counseling training for all health professions. In addition, genetics must be introduced in government programs such as the Family Health Program (Saúde da Família), a measure that would allow a mapping of the incidence of genetic diseases in the country and the implementation of genetic counseling despite the size of the territory and the population heterogeneity. Lastly, the introduction of medical genetics as part of the SUS depends on the engagement of medical and nonmedical professionals in horizontal teamwork, with a change in the hierarchy that has traditionally been at the foundations of health care.

Desafios para a universalização da genética clínica: o caso brasileiro / Challenges for the universalization of clinical genetics: the Brazilian case

Este artigo aborda as dificuldades de inserir a genética médica como parte do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) no Brasil. Em 2009, foi instituída no Brasil a Política Nacional de Atenção Integral em Genética Médica, cujo pilar central seria o aconselhamento genético. Porém, são problemas estratégicos para a implementação dessa política a falta de programas de formação em aconselhamento genético, o desconhecimento acerca de quantos profissionais existem para prestar esse aconselhamento e o provável baixo número de profissionais disponíveis. É desejável uma atuação conjunta dos Ministérios da Saúde e da Educação para ampliar a educação em genética e a formação em aconselhamento genético para todas as profissões no campo da saúde. Além disso, é essencial a inclusão da genética em programas como o Saúde da Família, que permitirá um mapeamento da incidência das doenças genéticas no país e a implementação de aconselhamento genético apesar do grande território e da heterogeneidade populacional do Brasil. Finalmente, a inserção da genética médica no SUS depende do engajamento de profissionais médicos e não médicos no trabalho em equipes horizontais, com alteração da tradicional hierarquia da atenção à saúde.

The present article deals with the difficulties of introducing medical genetics as part of the Brazilian public Unified Health System (SUS). A national policy of comprehensive care in medical genetics was established in 2009, having genetic counseling as a central pillar. However, there are strategic limitations to the implementation of this policy: a dearth of genetic counseling training programs, the lack of knowledge concerning the number of professionals available to provide genetic counseling, and the likely low number of professionals available for the job. A joint effort by the ministries of health and education is desirable to foster genetics and genetic counseling training for all health professions. In addition, genetics must be introduced in government programs such as the Family Health Program (Saúde da Família), a measure that would allow a mapping of the incidence of genetic diseases in the country and the implementation of genetic counseling despite the size of the territory and the population heterogeneity. Lastly, the introduction of medical genetics as part of the SUS depends on the engagement of medical and nonmedical professionals in horizontal teamwork, with a change in the hierarchy that has traditionally been at the foundations of health care.

[Public regulation on human genetics in US, UK, France and Japan].

Public regulation on human genetics seems to have two major areas, one on treatment of gene as biological material, and the other on treatment of genetic information. Current responses by the governments of US, UK and France are reviewed to understand problems faced in Japan and look for desirable ways to resolve them.

Recuento histórico de la bioética en la genética médica / Historical account of bioethics in medical genetics

El trabajo presentado se enmarca en el campo de la bioética dentro de la Genética Médica. Se realiza una revisión de su desarrollo histórico relacionándolo con el surgimiento del asesoramiento genético y su aplicación en los diferentes niveles de atención al paciente