Ethical and social issues in clinical laboratory genetics

Recommended Prerequisites

Knowledge of biology, biochemistry in the pre graduate cycle of courses in the scope of Biomedical Sciences.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical and theoretical-practical classes will be used presentations, handouts / articles / or other material that the professors understand to be the most appropriate with theoretical contents related to the objectives of the UC. Sessions will be organized to present themes prepared by teams of students in order to contribute to the development of skills in this field.
The test will be carried out according to the specific pedagogical objectives of the UC and the number of questions will be representative of the importance of the subject to be evaluated and the number of hours taught in each topic.

Learning Outcomes

The nature of the information collected in clinical laboratory genetics raises additional ethical questions in the bioethical context. It is intended that the student:

- To discuss the concepts of bioethics and analyze their repercussion in the context of laboratory clinical genetics;

- To discuss the concepts of privacy, confidentiality and ownership of genetic data;

- To discuss the relationship between genetic information and discrimination/social stigmatization;

- To discuss inappropriate applications in the context of clinical laboratory genetics;

- To evaluate the commercial interests of laboratory genetic data.

- To analyze bioethical issues in the context of biobanks.

- To discuss different ethical and social challenges and dilemmas within clinical laboratory genetics.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

- Basis and principles of bioethics - the personal, social, cultural, economic and political dimension in bioethics;

- Privacy, confidentiality and ownership of genetic data;

- Genetic information and discrimination/social stigmatization;

- Inappropriate use of clinical laboratory genetics data;

- Commercial interests of laboratory genetic data.

- Bioethical aspects in the context of biobanks.

- Ethical and social challenges and dilemmas in the field of laboratory clinical genetics, particularly in the field of reproductive medicine, gene therapy, susceptibility testing, gene editing, direct-to-consumer genetic tests, among other topics.

Head Lecturer(s)

Isabel Maria Marques Carreira

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Students will prepare and present a theme within the UC syllabus, being evaluated the content, communication skills and teamwork : 30.0%
The evaluation consists of a multiple-choice questions and/or other question types : 70.0%

Bibliography

Artigos científicos originais e de revisão, atuais, no âmbito dos diferentes temas abordados na UC.

Genetics, Ethics and Education. ISBN: 9781316340301, Cambridge University Press 2017

Outro material que os docentes disponibilizem.