AMA Position Statement on Genetic Testing and Genomics in Medicine 2020

The AMA today released its Position Statement on Genetic Testing and Genomics in Medicine 2020, which is an update of the AMA Position Statement on Genetic Testing 2012.

 

The AMA has updated its policy on genetics, expanding it to include not only genetics (the study of individual genes and associated inherited conditions and traits), but also genomics (the study of an individual’s genetic material and the influences of environmental and other factors).

 

AMA President, Dr Omar Khorshid, said today that the Position Statement highlights the capacity of genetics and genomics to rapidly transform health care, potentially providing more cost-effective treatments and improving patient outcomes.

 

“The AMA believes genetic and genomic technologies should be incorporated into everyday health care, and that genetic discrimination should be prohibited,” Dr Khorshid said.

 

“There should be equitable and efficient access to safe, evidence-based genetic and genomics testing services throughout Australia.

 

“This requires appropriate infrastructure, workforce planning, and investment in training and development to ensure a genomic literate workforce, including an ongoing high-quality genetic pathology-related workforce.

 

“The ethical, economic, and social issues associated with genetic and genomics testing must be addressed to remove any barriers and disincentives, and allow equitable access to these services.

 

“The AMA’s updated policy outlines ways to improve access to these services throughout Australia.

 

“It also addresses issues such as consent to genetic testing, and the protection of personal genetic information, genetic discrimination, direct-to-consumer genetic tests, access to testing services, research, gene and genetic patents, genetic selection, and genome editing.”