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24HourForums.com > Supported Forums > Robodoon's New World Order Zone > Sick babies denied treatment due to corp. patent on gene |
| Moderated by: SchooBaka, Robodoon, crhamlett, bg |
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Robodoon Original500© Member  God Fearing Patriot
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Sick babies denied treatment due to corp. patent on gene Julie Robotham Sydney Morning Herald December 1, 2008 BABIES with a severe form of epilepsy risk having their diagnosis delayed and their treatment compromised because of a company’s patent on a key gene. It is the first evidence that private intellectual property rights over human DNA are adversely affecting medical care. Deepak Gill, head of neurology at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, said he would test at least 50 per cent more infants for the SCN1A gene - which would diagnose the disabling Dravet syndrome - if the hospital could conduct the test in-house. But rights to the gene are controlled by the Melbourne-based Genetic Technologies, which has already threatened to stop public hospitals testing for breast cancer gene mutations, and the hospital will not risk a similar problem. Specialists are sending blood samples to Scotland, and only babies whose seizure patterns closely resemble Dravet syndrome are tested. This means children with slightly different symptoms may be treated with the wrong medicines for months, potentially retarding their development. “It’s frustrating that we can’t get the test done readily,” Dr Gill said. “If we could include it as part of the work-up, we could identify them early.” At present the diagnosis is often delayed until the child is 12 to 18 months old. This is after the optimum time for treatment with strong drugs that are unsuitable for most babies with epilepsy but are used for infants with Dravets to control severe seizures that can damage the brain. Standard childhood epilepsy medications are ineffective with Dravets and may worsen it, Dr Gill said. The situation comes amid growing concern among doctors and medical researchers over the ethics of granting private ownership to human DNA. A Senate inquiry announced this month will investigate the effects of gene patenting on health-care. SCN1A is the most important epilepsy gene discovered, Dr Gill said, and is abnormal in about 70 per cent of children with Dravet syndrome, which affects about one in 30,000 babies - almost 10 per cent of infant epilepsy cases. READ ARTICLE
 "...we are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the US, ...conspiring with others around the world to build ...-- one world, if you will. If that's the charge, I stand guilty, and I am proud of it." David Rockefeller |
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Brian Grand Poobah of Moderation 
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Robodoon wrote: Sick babies denied treatment due to corp. patent on gene Patenting genes is a truly stupid idea. I have to confess, though: I'm a little confused as to what's really going on here. It sounds to me as if the company involved is patenting the test, rather than the gene. If the Supreme Court looks at this (the patenting of genes, I mean), I think they would have to throw it out, based on my (admittedly limited) understanding of patent law. This isn't a gene the company created. Every person with this disease has it. Therefore, it's not a novel invention. The gene would've inevitably been discovered by someone. I'm with ya on this one, Rob. It sounds nuts to me. (And I used to work at a pharma company.)
"It's been a long December, and there's reason to believe maybe this year will be better than the last." -- "A Long December", Counting Crows |
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1jester Pioneer100© Member  Pilgrim Sojourner
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Money is always more important than human life. What else is new?
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. -Matthew 22:37-39 |
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