During the last decades, a better understanding of the influence of genetic factors on the onset of illness and disease has evolved. Unfortunately, however, the information revealed by genetic tests is not always accurate and reliable and its probabilistic value is often limited. Throughout the world, the possibility of genetic testing and the availability of individual genetic information have therefore caused increasing social concern, especially since many actors outside the medical profession, such as health and life insurance companies and employers, have shown a growing interest in individual genetic information. In many states, as well as on the international level, there is an ongoing debate about the balance that should be struck between the protection of the individual against misuse of genetic information and the interests of social actors and genetic research institutes, and about the policy options that are at hand to reduce the risks that are created by the availability of genetic information. This book offers some clarity as to the choices that have been made in various legal systems, both national and international, with respect to the regulation of genetic information. On the basis of an elaborate analysis of relevant legislation, policy approaches and case-law in the United States, the various European states and on the international level, the book aims to provide insight in the issues that must be deemed relevant in considering and, eventually, introducing regulative measures with respect to genetic information.
Aalt Willem Heringa (1955) graduated from the Rijksuniversiteit Leiden in 1978, where he worked until 1987 as an assistant professor. He was a visiting researcher at the Centre of European Governmental Studies of the University of Edinburgh (1986) and at the European Research Center of the Harvard Law School (1996). In 1989 he completed his Ph.D. thesis 'Sociale Grondrechten' (Social Rights). He has been working at Maastricht University, the Faculty of Law, since 1987; he was appointed full professor of (comparative) constitutional and administrative law in 1995. He is author and editor of numerous books and articles on Dutch Constitutional law, the European Convention on Human Rights, the European Social Charter, comparative constitutional law, US constitutional law, Human Rights and legal education. He served for many years as a Member of the Netherlands Commission on Equal Treatment. He is one of the founding editors of the NJCM Bulletin; of EHRC (European Human Rights Cases); of JB and JB+; of the Maastricht Journal of European and comparative law (MJ); and of EVRM Rechtspraak & Commentaar . He served on the supervisory board of Hiil (the Hague Institute for the Internationalisation of the Law) and on the Supervisory Board of LVO. He is since 2010 a member/vice chair of the supervisory board of Orbis Medical Center, major care and cure organisation in the south of Limburg province. Since 2012 he also serves on the Conseil d’Administration of Paris University Dauphine. Since 2012 he is director of the Montesquieu Institute Maastricht and he is Head of the Public Law Department. In 2013 he worked as European Co-Dean of the China EU School of Law in Beijing.
