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Progress Educational Trust, Darwin Lecture Theatre, Darwin Building, University College London, Malet Place, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Thursday 5 June 2014, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Angelina Jolie made headlines around the world in 2013, when she wrote publicly about her decision to undergo a double mastectomy and criticised 'the cost of testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2', saying that this cost 'remains an obstacle for many women'. She was alluding to the cost of Myriad Genetics' patented BRACAnalysis test for cancer-causing mutations in the BRCA genes, which is due to be succeeded by the myRisk Hereditary Cancer test. Jolie's criticism is just one example of how the relationship between breast cancer and the commercial world can become the subject of public debate and controversy.
Less than a month after Jolie went public about her mastectomy, the US Supreme Court ruled in a long-running case whose plaintiffs included three breast cancer patients and whose defendant was Myriad Genetics. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that natural human genes such as breast cancer predisposition genes cannot be patented, but Myriad retains claims in numerous patents that still confer protection on its tests, and the company's longstanding US monopoly on BRCA gene testing is likely to continue. Meanwhile, the UK has its own controversies - a moratorium on the use of genetic information established in 2001 (and reviewed regularly, with the next review due in 2017) means that one's genes cannot affect directly one's insurance premiums, but information about family history (including family history of breast cancer) can still be used when setting premium rates.
Early detection of breast tumours can also lead to insurance becoming more expensive for greater numbers of patients (some insurers will refuse to pay for risk-reducing screening or surgery, even if the risk is identified after the insurance policy was taken out) and may affect a patient's ability to obtain or maintain a mortgage. Finally, there are broader concerns about the UK's care.data project, which will make NHS patient data available to commercial third parties - following recent scandals, the Government has given assurances that this data cannot be used to raise insurance premiums, but critics of the project remain sceptical.
This event will see these and other aspects of breast cancer discussed in relation to business and commerce, from contrasting perspectives, by a panel of experts. It is the third event in the Progress Educational Trust (PET)'s 'Breast Cancer: Chances, Choices and Genetics' project (supported by the Wellcome Trust). The first two events, 'Relative Risk: Breast Cancer and Genetics' and 'Risk Assessment: Breast Cancer, Prediction and Screening', will take place at the same venue on Thursday 3 April and Thursday 8 May respectively. A fourth and final event will take place at the same venue on Thursday 3 July.
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Organized by:
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Progress Educational Trust |
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Invited Speakers:
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Alexander Denoon (Partner at Lawford Davies Denoon)
Graeme Laurie (Professor of Medical Jurisprudence and Founding Director of the Mason Institute for Medicine, Life Sciences and the Law at the University of Edinburgh)
[Both of the speakers listed above are confirmed]
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Deadline for Abstracts:
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N/A
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Registration:
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This event is free to attend, but advance booking is required.
Please email Sandy Starr and he will add you to the attendee list.
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E-mail:
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sstarr@progress.org.uk
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