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- In Greece, genetic testing is mainly regulated through the legal framework that applies to health services as a whole. The regulations on patient rights are mutatis mutandis applicable as rights of users of genetic services. The main principles are completed with specific regulations on genetic testing and recommendations of the National Bioethics Commission.
- Interventions in human genes are only allowed for preventive, diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. They may never have consequences for the future generations. Gene technology may not be used for political or military purposes.
- Respect for the value of human beings requires the free and informed consent of the person whose biological sample is collected for the purpose of genetic testing. In order to ensure genuine conditions of free will, the information should be provided, if possible, in advance of seeking the consent. The consent must be written, specific and revocable at any time before the onset of sample or data processing. The information given to the patient preceding the consent includes:
a) The purpose of the test should be adequately explained in comprehensible language,
b) It should be clarified whether the genetic data will be destroyed or stored after the test; in case they are stored, whether they will be anonymous or confidential as well as whether they are destined to commercial exploitation,
c) It should be clarified whether the biological sample will be destroyed or stored after the test; in case it is stored, whether it will be linked to the resulting genetic data or not.
- Everyone, in the context of self-determination, has the right to know the results of any medical, diagnostic or preventive genetic tests they were subject to. Exceptionally the right to know the results of genetic tests cannot be exercised in the context of research projects when the interpretation of results is uncertain.
- Everyone has the right to the protection of his health and his genetic identity. A statute shall provide the necessary protection of a person against biomedical intervention. Everyone has the right to determine whether genetic information is to be disclosed or not to third parties as well as the content of such information and the time of disclosure. There is a constitutional right to genetic privacy, including the right to the protection of personal genetic data and that this right belongs to the defensive rights; in fact it is a sub-category of the general right to privacy.
- Discrimination is prohibited by the International Conventions signed by Greece.
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