Genomics and Public Health: Legal and Socio-Ethical Perspectives

When genomics and public health are integrated into society, it will create as many responsibilities as rights for citizens, researchers, and decision makers. Indeed, the expression of genetic risk factors in both common and infectious diseases is of great interest to public health. Policy development in this area then needs to tackle crucial themes such as: research and its application to public health and genomic medicine, the authority of the state, the right to privacy, and the roles and responsibilities of citizens and the State.

Considering the current fears of a world-wide pandemic, this book is a timely and insightful exploration of both research possibilities and the role of the state. It will help to understand the limits of possible state access to biobanks and data. It examines the issue of the possible use of newborn screening programmes by public health authorities. It also attempts to understand the protection of individual privacy and the public interest in the promotion of health and the prevention of disease. Moreover, do citizens have a say? Will public attitudes be different towards research in public health genomics compared to genetic testing?