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Acta Biológica Colombiana
Print version ISSN 0120-548X
Abstract
FLORES-ANGULO, Carlos JG and LEE, January. GENETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY TO CANCER: SOME BIOETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN VENEZUELAN LEGAL FRAMEWORK. Acta biol.Colomb. [online]. 2010, vol.15, n.1, pp.259-270. ISSN 0120-548X.
Cancer is a disease characterized by the rapid and uncontrolled growth of cells. There are various risk factors associated; one of them is the hereditary factor, which may be the most important, because, even though the phenotype has a great dependence on the environmental conditions, the base of carcinogenesis is the non lethal genetic damage. In this sense, the study of genetic susceptibility markers acquires capital importance, because it allows the identification of high genetic risk individuals, estimate their prognosis and their answer to treatment, obtaining a more predictive and preventive position of the medical practice. None the less this could unleash a great deal of ethical problems, especially difficult to solve in a society without an adequate legal context. That is why it is important to carry out an analysis of the Venezuelan Legal System (VLS) that protects the information of human genome and its bioethical repercussions. For that, a search and interpretation of the valid Venezuelan normative was made, concerning publications about cancer, its susceptibility and technological diagnosis. The conclusions that were obtained were that 1) Their massive offer is not recommended because of its psychosocial and labor repercussions, 2) The normative of the VLS about the genome protection is quite limited, and 3) The adaptation of the VLS is necessary to the imminent scientific development, in order to control the bioethical impact of the obtained information and guarantee the access to a genetic, psychological and legal advisement so that the context of responsibilities can be established.
Keywords : cancer; bioethics; susceptibility.