Seminar on Ethical, Legal and Social Implications of Genetics

Genomics Over the Pediatric Life Course: Addressing the Issues

Ellen Wright Clayton, MD, JD

Craig-Weaver Professor of Pediatrics, Professor of Law, Professor of Health Policy, and Co-Founder, Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society, Vanderbilt University

The ability to assay thousands or even millions of genetic variants at any time from birth (or before) to death raises particular ethical and legal issues for minors since they are rarely able to decide whether to undergo testing on their own.  Studies are underway to assess the impact of whole genome sequencing on newborns and their families.  Commentators disagree about whether parents can either demand or refuse some or all genomic information about their children, raising questions that go to the heart of parental authority and the ethical foundations of pediatrics.  What, if anything, should happen when minors attain cognitive capacity or legal majority, similarly, is hotly debated. The goal of this talk is to consider these debates together to develop a unified approach for addressing them.

Monday, Sept 21 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm  

Board Room, 6th Floor, Room 6601, NYSPI Pardes Buiilding

1051 Riverside Drive, NYC 10032