The field of genetics is rapidly evolving. Scientific and medical advances in genetics have the potential to improve our health, identify criminals, provide new insights into human behavior, and improve our lives. At the same time, if misused, genetic information could result in discrimination and interfere with established civil liberties. The concerns associated with genetics are multi-disciplinary. Scientific, medical, legal and ethical analysis are important to understand the implications of genetic advances.
Public input is critical to understand the concerns of Michigan citizens.
The commission recommends that the Governor provide a mechanism for continuing access to expertise that can assist in the creation and analysis of policy in the area of genetics. Analysis should be available to evaluate public concerns and to recommend approaches as genetic technology evolves. Expertise could be provided from research geneticists, clinical geneticists, physicians, lawyers, bioethicists, biotechnology representatives and other relevant stakeholders.