Statement

American Society of Human Genetics is committed to protecting the rights and welfare of those who participate in genetics and genomics research. In separate statements, the Society examined different aspects of informed consent, including the use of family medical history of research participants, and the use of collected samples and proper disposition of samples and... Read More

Genetic information about an individual reveals genetic risk information about both the individual and other family members. ASHG issued a statement in 2000 considering the importance of family medical history in genetics research and its balance with ensuring the genetic privacy of research participants’ relatives, and one in 1998 commenting on this balance in the... Read More

ASHG members have interest in many questions raised in public discussion of the use of stem cells in biomedical research. ASHG supports federally funded stem cell research and the appointment of an advisory body to foster and maintain public confidence in this area of research. Related: ASHG Statement on Stem Cell Research (August 2001) ASHG... Read More

ASHG reaffirms its commitment to the fundamental principle of reproductive freedom and unequivocally declares its opposition to coercive efforts to restrict that freedom based on the misuse of genetic information. Related: Statement on Eugenics and the Misuse of Genetic Information to Restrict Reproductive Freedom (February 1999) Read More

Behavioral genetics brings to light both genetic and environmental influences on behavior. ASHG commented on the state of this field, including recent accomplishments, future directions, and methods, in a 1997 statement. Related: Statement: Developments in Human Behavioral Genetics: Past Accomplishments and Future Directions (June 1997) Read More