Welcome to the Nanny State...err....California

[ECO]

CA does it again, sticking another knife in personal liberties. The Department of Public Health has stomped its little foot to try to stop personal genomics companies from offering their services.

Best quote of the article...

"These businesses are apparently operating without a clinical laboratory license in California. The genetic tests have not been validated for clinical utility and accuracy," says Nickel. "And they are scaring a lot of people to death."

Wow...just wow.

[ScottC]

Well, I have to say that I don't know a lot about these companies or how they're running, but I do think they should have some kind of regulation in terms of providing people with accurate and meaningful information, probably with the offer of some kind of personalized counseling to help them understand what they're seeing and reading.

[Mr. Gunn]

Well, obviously, the solution is to have a GENE SHERPA on staff.

heh

[ECO]

Well, obviously, the solution is to have a GENE SHERPA on staff.

heh

Wow, I hadn't been back there in a couple days...the rest of the community really lit into him didn't they? Well it's a good discussion, and I do applaud him for actually approving all those comments that attack him.

Let's hope he stews on that and changes his opinion.

[Mr. Gunn]

Well, I wouldn't be too quick to congratulate him. My latest, where I compared him to the RIAA , hasn't been approved. Also, I just saw this: http://epidemix.org/blog/?p=249

[ECO]

Funny stuff...but unfortunately really important social/freedom issues are at hand.

I love the term "rent seeking" I need to use that more often.

[ECO]

Oh man, I take it all back...he's at it again:

http://thegenesherpa.blogspot.com/2008/06/streets-of-philadelphia.html

It's amazing that someone so intelligent can't grasp that HIS BUSINESS will profit from DTC testing, as these wealthy, smart customers look for a more in depth interpretation of this data.

[The Sherpa]

Guys....come on...

Your arguments keep revolving around sequencing companies!!! There are 11 other companies named. I have 20 patients who are of the big 3. I know that they make good patients. But I have many many more BRCA patients. We make no money from testing patients. we make money for consultative services and pedigree interpretation. SNP interpretation too. But absolutely no more money than from those who do not test. This is a principle. SNPs without interpretation is just Data, with interpretation is Medical Genetics. The problem I see is that this field went largely unregulated for the last 30 years. And now some real crazies have been offering genetic testing. Remember, this is DTC genetic testing too. I think all of you posted smart and well thought out opinions. I just respectfully disagree. No one is saying 23andMe or Navi are dummies. In fact, Dietrich Stephan is brilliant, so is David Agus. The likely scenario is that they and they other 2 got some really bad legal advice. I think if the lawyers knew what I did they would have advised that they set up partnerships with physicians. One company did try, but they tried to get me to sell genetic tests wholesale. That my friends is Illegal. See Stark II. This is further proof that they had some bunk legal advice.

-Steve