Finland signed the Additional Protocol to the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine, concerning Genetic Testing for Health of the Council of Europe
Press release 441/2008
27 November, 2008
Ambassador Irma Ertman, the Permanent Representative of Finland to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, signed the Additional Protocol to the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine, concerning Genetic Testing for Health Purposes on behalf of Finland on 27 November. This is the fourth Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine.
The Protocol contains ethical and legal provisions to be applied to genetic testing carried out for health purposes. The Protocol includes principles about information concerning human genetics and its testing, informed consent, the advice necessary concerning genetic information and the quality of services.
The Protocol has been drawn up by the Steering Committee on Bioethics (CDBI) of the Council of Europe, with participation by Finnish representatives of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The conformity of the Protocol to the principles observed in Finland was taken into account during the preparatory work.
The Protocol is applied in situations where genetic testing is utilised to determine hereditary factors, or factors arising during early stages of development, that affect human health. The Protocol does not apply to genetic tests carried out on the human embryo or foetus.
The Protocol states that the interests and welfare of the human being concerned by genetic tests prevails over the interest of society or science. Any form of discrimination or stigmatisation on grounds of genetic heritage is prohibited. The quality of genetic services must be monitored, and tests can be performed only on grounds of clinical utility. The Protocol defines provisions on the grounds for testing, the right to information and on genetic counselling. Tests can also be performed for the benefit of family members. Provisions on respect for private life and the right to information, implementation of genetic screening programmes for health purposes as well as access of the public to objective general information on genetic tests are also included in the Protocol. The Protocol is regarded as additional articles to the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine.
The intention is to submit a Government Proposal to Parliament seeking approval of the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine (CETS 164), the Additional Protocol on the Prohibition of Cloning Human Beings (CETS 168) and the Additional Protocol concerning Transplantation of Organs and Tissues of Human Origin (CETS 186) in December. Ratification in Finland of the Additional Protocol concerning Genetic Testing for Health will take place at a later date.
Additional information: Terhi Hermanson, Ministerial Counsellor, Health/Medical Affairs, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 9 1607 3901, Senior Medical Officer Ritva Halila, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health tel. +358 9 1607 3834, and Counsellor Jaakko Halttunen, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5713