Ethical, Legal and Social Considerations on Precision Medicine in the Republic of Korea
The McGill Research Group on Health and Law (RGHL), in collaboration with the Centre for Genomics and Policy, is pleased to invite you to Ethical, Legal and Social Considerations on Precision Medicine in the Republic of Korea.
The seminar will be presented in English by Dr. So Yoon Kim, Professor of Medical Law and BioEthics at the College of Medicine at Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea. It will take place on Thursday, January 11, 2018, from 12:30 to 14:00 in Room 3M-48, Strathcona Building, McGill University (3640 University, Montreal).
Abstract
Korean biobanks are now changing to integrate the new paradigm of precision medicine into their fundamental role of promoting health technology. Since the enactment of Bioethics and Safety Act in 2004, the Republic of Korea has developed a regulatory framework that reflects ethical principles. However, the regulation of biobanks has recently proven to be limited in responding to newer ethical and legal issues that have arisen. First, as there is an emerging trend for human biospecimens to be stored, managed and distributed as digitalized data, the current role of the Distributive Review Committee may become less important compared to the Data Access Committee. Second, even if public health data is anonymised, the risk of identifiability is growing. This makes a third point relevant, informed consent is crucial to respect the autonomy of patients and research subjects, but current consent rules need to change to reflect the interactive and dynamic communication process, increasingly being realized in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Fourth, even though data sharing for research is expected to be altruistic and the sale of human biospecimens and genome data remains prohibited, current data sharing practices have become more complicated, and are closer to commercial use and commercialisation. Given these challenges, continuing and deeper deliberation must be carried out in order to develop a more comprehensive and responsive governance framework.
The event is free, but registration is obligatory as spaces are limited. Kindly RSVP to rghl.law [at] mcgill.ca. A light lunch will be served.
