Fury at plan to sell off DNA secrets 
Leak reveals drug companies' demands
Britain's health files 'could be privatised'

The genetic secrets of millions of Britons could be sold off to private drug
   companies under highly controversial proposals outlined in leaked government
   documents. 

   DNA samples collected from patients during routine hospital treatment would
   be stored on a massive national database and auctioned to pharmaceutical 
   companies, who could use the information to help develop lucrative new drugs. 

   The possibility is also raised that people could test samples from third 
   parties and use the results for blackmail. 

   The minutes suggest that the section of the Green Paper dealing with industry
   should be placed at the back of the document 'to avoid giving the impression
   that commercial considerations are at the forefront'. 

   Dr David King, co-ordinator of Human Genetics Alert, criticised the 
   proposals. 'It appears that the Government is on the road to privatising the
   nation's DNA,' he said. 'Many of the ideas being floated are driven by 
   commercial interests and profits - with ethics given a walk-on part.' 

   Baroness Kennedy, chair of the Human Genetics Commission - some of whose 
   members are furious at being left off the panel - said she would have grave
   concerns about selling off DNA. 

   'This raises some very, very serious questions, and my commission will really
   want to look at that,' she said. 'It is the leaching of information from one
   databank to another that is precisely what the general public is afraid of.' 

   The Commission will tomorrow discuss in public its own draft report on the 
   use of genetic information. It is expected to recommend an independent 
   watchdog to oversee the police DNA database of samples taken from criminals,
   and tighter rules on consent to medical genetic tests, making it clear how 
   and by whom results will be used. 

   Members of the panel declined to comment. A spokeswoman for the Department of
   Health said the meeting was a brainstorming session and no decisions had been
   made.

Antony Barnett and Gaby Hinsliff
Sunday September 23, 2001
The Observer
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