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3 Health L.J. 1 (1995)
Professional Norms: Towards a Canadian Consensus

handle is hein.journals/hthlj3 and id is 9 raw text is: Professional Norms: Towards a Canadian Consensus? Bartha Maria Knoppers In 1992, the Centre de recherche en droit public of the Universit6 de Montr6al together with the Health Law Institute of the University of Alberta launched a joint research program on Professional Norms in the Practice of Human Genetics. ' The objectives of this project were threefold: to identify and analyze the sources of professional and social norms underlying quality of life choices in the practice of genetics; to evaluate the use of these norms; and to develop a professional ethics consensus statement for reference by patients, professionals and policy makers in Canada based on responsibility in relationships. The technical knowledge and social power of molecular biology, (to say nothing of the economic growth of the biotechnology industry) have led to an influx of genetic testing which frequently involves difficult quality of life choices. Heightened public awareness is concomitant with this increased testing and our evolving understanding of genetic risk factors in common multifactorial diseases such as cancer and hypertension. As a result, the medical paradigm is moving from diagnosis and treatment to prognosis and prevention. Are there norms to guide practitioners, patients and their families? The absence of specific legislation is not synonymous with either the absence of law or of norms. Practice guidelines, commission recommendations, as well as national and international declarations often serve as guideposts for the courts. Norms can be juridical, techno-scientific, socio-cultural, or ethical, and as such are polymorphic in nature. The emergence of these norms and what can be termed biopolicy, be it on a national or international level, is a dynamic and interactive process rather than a linear one. Indeed, a brief overview of the emergence of professional norms generally will, when studied together with LL.D., Associate Professor of Law at the Universit6 de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, and Senior Researcher with the Centre de recherche do droit public, Universit& de Montr6al. This study on Professional Norms in the Practice of Human Genetics was completed with the support of SSHRCC (Professional Norms in the Practice of Human Genetics, Grant no. 806-92-0016) and FRSQ (Fonds de la recherche en sant6 du Quebec). Co-Investigator, Professor Gerald Robertson.

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