유전자검사의 유형에 따른 기관생명윤리심의위원회의 역할

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present the role and status of Institutional Bioethics Committee(IBC) in genetic testing institution(GTI). Its role has been defined as the review and oversight of activities of those institutions. Diverse genetic testings have raised various ethical issues and controversies. Genetic testings, in general, have been used to predict genes-related disease, to diagnosis and treat particular disease, and to identify genetic information of particular persons. And, genetic testings lead to ethical concerns on its potential harms and benefits by end or method of testing and impact of test result. Korean Bioethics and Safety Act takes measure in order to protect the person who provides specimen for genetic testings. The IBCs in GTIs are charged with the responsibility to protect research subjects and groups in their participation. But, there has been reports that some IBCs and their members are not appropriately trained for that. Therefore, this paper argues that the review of IBCs should be appropriated according to types of the genetic testings. And its members should be trained in order to meet those expectations. First of all, in the GTI which carry out the role of medical institution, its IBC should concentrate on proper content, process, and procedure of obtaining informed consent from the specimen provider. In particular, IBCs of GTI should assure that specimen provider understand the purpose and process of the tests and researches. Furthermore, IBCs in GTI should expect potential harms and benefits of testing due to inaccurate result and take appropriate measure in advance.