The genomics revolution is a two-edged sword threatening patient privacy while opening the door to unprecedented medical progress. EU research has found a way to maintain privacy without curbing research.
Cracking the human genetic code has increased knowledge on a whole spectrum of genetic diseases and future research is on the road to previously unforeseen therapies. However, unscrupulous use of the information could lead to breach of genetic privacy and leak of sensitive information about its owner. This includes data such as predisposition to sensitive diseases, ancestors, physical attributes and genomic data of relatives.
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Patient privacy preserved in the genomic era