THE IMPLICATIONS OF GENETIC TESTING FOR EMPLOYMENT

ANNEX A

MEMBERSHIP OF THE HUMAN GENETICS ADVISORY COMMISSION

 
The Baroness O'Neill *
Acting Chair HGAC from 5 February 1999
Principal, Newnham College, Cambridge

Professor Sir Colin Campbell
Chairman of HGAC to 5 February 1999
Vice Chancellor - University of Nottingham

Professor Cairns Aitken*
Professor-emeritus of Rehabilitation Studies, University of Edinburgh

Dr Micheala Aldred*
Director - Retinoblastoma Society

Professor Martin Bobrow*
Professor of Medical Genetics - University of Cambridge

Mrs Doris Littlejohn*
Chairman of the Employment Working Group
President - Employment Tribunals (Scotland)

Professor Norman Nevin
Chairman - Gene Therapy Advisory Committee

Revd Dr John Polkinghorne
Chairman - Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing

Dr George Poste
Chief Science and Technology Officer - SmithKline Beecham Plc

Ms Moira Stuart
Reporter/presenter - British Broadcasting Corporation
 

* Members of the Employment Working Group.

Dr David Wright (Consultant Occupational Physician) was co-opted as a member of this Group.

TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE HUMAN GENETICS ADVISORY COMMISSION

i)  to keep under review scientific progress at the frontiers of human genetics and related fields;

ii)  to report on issues arising from new developments in human genetics that can be expected to have wider social, ethical and/or economic consequences, for example in relation to public health, insurance, patents and employment; and

iii)   to advise on ways to build public confidence in, and understanding of, the new genetics.

The terms of reference of the HGAC's Employment Working Group (EWG) were to:

i)  report to the HGAC on the potential value of genetic testing in the workplace and highlight the concerns raised by such developments;

ii)  help raise awareness of the implications of genetic testing amongst employers and employees and help stimulate co-ordinated debate; and

iii)  offer reassurance that wider concerns about this issue are being considered.

In taking forward this work, to build on the Nuffield Council on Bioethics report, Genetic Screening Ethical Issues (1993), and draw on the work of others including the TUC and the HSE, and also to consider how genetic testing may be deployed in the employment field and whether such use is justifiable.