Chapitre 7. Is legislative principalism an illusory and perverse policy? A Critical Opinion of the French Regulation and Practice of Genetic Tests

Abstract

Very early French medical circles and public authorities adopted a restrictive approach regarding the use of genetic testing of adults, specially in the field of predictive genetic testing.
There was a fear that allowing extra medical uses of such tests by private persons could lead to possible social discrimination.
However the experience we have of the practice of genetic testing reveals that some techniques are now routinely used and have largely contributed to a complete reconstruction of the civil and penal law in some areas and that this could affect the safeguard of public liberties and individual privacy.