Must the relatives be told? Legal and ethical issues in relation to the non-disclosure of genetic information by healthcare professionals to relatives (T4/10)

Genetic testing may have profound implications not merely for the patient who is tested, but for those who are genetically related to them. It also raises a host of legal and ethical issues for health care professionals involved in genetic testing in relation to the issue of what, when and how relatives should be told.

The project will involve a review of the relevant case law and secondary literature, and examination of the ethical, legal and social issues in relation to the disclosure/non-disclosure of genetic test results to relatives following the leading case of ABC v St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust [2017] EWCA Civ 336, exploring the appropriate balance between the patient’s right to confidentiality/privacy and the interests of relatives in disclosure; whether a legal duty of care ought to be imposed in such cases, and the proper basis and scope of such duty, and whether a failure to disclose such results may be regarded as infringing the relative’s rights under the European Convention on Human Rights.
Entry Requirements
UK Bachelor Degree with at least 2:1 in a relevant subject or overseas equivalent.

University of Leicester English language requirements apply.

This project is available for UK/EU/International students.
How to Apply
Application advice and application link

https://le.ac.uk/study/research-degrees/funded-opportunities/wellcome-trust-2020