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VA BEGINS COLLECTING DNA FOR LARGE-SCALE "GENE
BANK" --
The VA is collecting DNA from veterans and
linking the information
to their medical records. Who gets this
information? Drug
companies? Insurance companies? Private
researchers?
VA cannot guarantee the security or privacy of
this information.
Background here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/old%20newsflashes%20APR%2006/newsflash04-23-2006-5.htm
and here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/old%20newsflashes%20OCT%2006/newsflash10-20-2006-1.htm
Let's put this complicated process into
perspective: The VA will ask veterans to donate their DNA.
The VA will link this genetic information to the veteran's medical
records. This will be used for research. At this point the
question is, "Who gets this information?"
The VA cannot guarantee the security of
this information. It could get into the hands of researchers, drug
companies, insurance companies and others.
If asked, I will NOT donate my DNA to the
VA...and I encourage other veterans to do the same.
Story here...
http://www.govhealthit.com/article96946-12-27-06-Web
Story below:
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VA to launch large-scale genetic data collection
BY Nancy Ferris
Aiming for breakthroughs in genomic medicine, the Department of Veterans
Affairs has begun collecting genetic information from patients and will
link the information to each patient’s electronic health record.
VA officials expect that the large-scale project will reveal links
between certain diseases and the genetic makeup of the individuals who
are prone to them. It also could increase scientists’ understanding of
the effects of genetics and the environment on people’s health.
The goal is to find new ways to prevent and treat diseases, based on
greater knowledge of the underlying influences on human health.
Scientists already know that genetic makeup influences how people
respond to some medications.
Dr. Joel Kupersmith, chief research and development officer at the VA,
told the American Health Information Community (AHIC) this fall that the
department is a good place for such a project because of its size,
integration of research with medical treatment and well-established EHR
system.
“We feel it is a strongly veteran-centric initiative,” Kupersmith said.
The genetic information is collected only from patients who have
consented to the test.
As of the end of October, the department had collected more than 30,000
specimens and had capacity to bank 100,000, he said. Those specimens
were gathered in a pilot project in connection with clinical trials of
new drugs, Kupersmith said. “We are now ready to broaden this pilot
project,” he added.
VA spokesman Terry Jemison said the pace of the project’s growth has yet
to be determined. “Significant expansions of sample collection
activities will only take place after plans have been thoroughly
discussed with [a federal advisory committee], veterans and veterans’
service organizations, and will depend upon the budgetary resources
available,” he said. He declined to say how much the department plans to
spend on the project this year.
At an earlier meeting, AHIC, a high-level, public/private advisory
commission chaired by Department Health and Human Services Secretary
Mike Leavitt, was told that it is unclear how best to incorporate
genetic information into EHRs.
“What we consider the gorilla in the room to address is the ethical and
privacy standards” for handling and disclosing genetic information,
Kupersmith told AHIC.
Dr. Kathy Hudson, founder of the Genetics and Public Policy Center at
Johns Hopkins University, told the commission that legislation is needed
to protect genetic information.
---------------
Larry Scott
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