Aggregated News
The two-year-old case has pitted the genetic-privacy rights of families against science designed to advance public health and has put the state Department of Health on the defensive more than once.
Under Wednesday's ruling, the Health Department can continue to automatically screen the blood samples in order to detect medical problems and intervene.
But to the dismay of some researchers, the court concluded that the blood droplets now taken from all newborns in Minnesota are protected under the 2006 Genetic Privacy Act as "genetic information." The court rejected the department's assertion that it can store and disseminate the blood samples for additional research. For that, parental consent will now be required, the court ruled.
"The commissioner's power to conduct health studies does not include unlimited authority to use the genetic information,'' according to the decision. "Use of genetic information for purposes other than the screening of newborn children and for follow-up services requires written informed consent.''
Minnesota Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger said his agency is studying the ruling to determine whether it endangers the program. "This important public health...
Under Wednesday's ruling, the Health Department can continue to automatically screen the blood samples in order to detect medical problems and intervene.
But to the dismay of some researchers, the court concluded that the blood droplets now taken from all newborns in Minnesota are protected under the 2006 Genetic Privacy Act as "genetic information." The court rejected the department's assertion that it can store and disseminate the blood samples for additional research. For that, parental consent will now be required, the court ruled.
"The commissioner's power to conduct health studies does not include unlimited authority to use the genetic information,'' according to the decision. "Use of genetic information for purposes other than the screening of newborn children and for follow-up services requires written informed consent.''
Minnesota Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger said his agency is studying the ruling to determine whether it endangers the program. "This important public health...