Press AdvisoryContact:Pam McDonnellNYU School of MedicineOffice of Public Affairs212-404-3555
Experts Discuss Recommendations of NY State Task Force on Genetic Testing
NEW YORK, May 23 -- On Wednesday, May 30, from 9:15 am to 2:30 pm, at Farkas Auditorium, NYU School of Medicine's Master Scholars Program will host a symposium entitled Genetic Testing and Screening in the Age of Genomic Medicine. At the symposium, experts will discuss the implications of the recent findings of the New York State Task Force on Life and the Law.
The task force was comprised of nationally recognized experts with a mandate to develop public policy recommendations in light of recent advances in genomic medicine. Genetic testing holds great promise for health care, but also raises a host of ethical, legal, and social concerns. The task force's report addressed many of these issues and recommended public education to prevent misunderstandings and misuse of genetic test information, among a long list of other policy guidelines.
The symposium is being co-sponsored by the New York Academy of Medicine and the State Task Force on Life and the Law. Topics to be discussed include: the role of informed consent for the use of clinical tissue in genetics research and the use of genetic information by employers and health insurers.
After opening remarks by both Robert M. Glickman, MD, Dean, NYU School of Medicine, and Alan R. Fleischman, MD, Senior Vice President, New York Academy of Medicine, Antonia C. Novello, MD, MPH, New York State Commissioner of Health, will address key issues associated with genetic testing.
Speakers will also include Harry Ostrer, MD, Director of the Human Genetics Program, and Elsa Reich, MS, CGC, Genetic Counselor - both at NYU School of Medicine - as well as experts from the New York State Bar Association, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the Hastings Center, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, Syracuse University, Seton Hall University School of Law, and a variety of other leading academic and healthcare organizations.
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