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Appendix 3 Parliament resolutions

Proposed Resolution by the Embryonic Stem Cell Research Committee
Submitted by: Gal Beck, Michal Sapir, Chen Morad, Adi Kogan, Shir Levi, Yuval
Cohen, Rotem Alon, Eli Yadgren, Ron Golan, Asmahan Barhum, May Cohen, Shai
Meltzer (Chair)
The Committee:
A. Appreciates the unique benefits of embryonic stem cell (ES) use and is convinced of the importance of this type of research, which includes: 1. Monitoring differentiation processes. 2. The study and understanding of genetic diseases, developmental, and 3. Discovery and development of medicines within cells, requiring controlled 4. Tissue engineering for transplant purposes. B. Notes that in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment in Israel has produced a bank of approximately 40,000 frozen, undesignated pre-embryos. C. Recognizes the need to take into account the wishes of donators D. Is aware of problems related to the use of ES and agrees to address E. Recognizes the existence of induced pluripotent stem cell (IPS) research as an alternative to ES and encourages its continuation, parallel to ES research. F. Is appalled by the trade in embryos in other countries and is determined to prevent its expansion to Israel. G. Is concerned about the health risks to which women are exposed during IVF treatment and calls for minimizing these risks. The Committee: 1. Urges the use of surplus pre-embryos following IVF treatment as a means of 2. Denounces any medical or treatment activity that exposes women to any unnecessary risk for the purpose of IVF, and calls for explicit prohibition of exposure to such risks. 3. Recommends use of ES only when the following conditions are met: a. Agreement by the donators, following an explanation of the research and its significance by the hospital administration or a person appointed by the hospital, and an explanation of the implications of ES use by a hospital social worker. b. Approval for pre-embryonic cell production only at hospitals in which the 4. Recommends strictly prohibiting all parties involved in the production of pre- embryonic cells from charging fees of any type. Proposed Resolution by the Genes and Violent Behavior Committee
Submitted by: Sapir Sigavy-Segal, Gabi Marmor, Roni Almog, Ziv Talmi, Daniel
Haikelson, Daniel Cohen, Yael Naomi Amar, Vadha Abu Hamid, Riyan Aliyan, Tal
Binyamin, Zohar Tal (Chair)
The Committee:
A. Has high regard for developments in genetic research, particularly gene research that indicates tendencies toward violent behavior. B. Notes that this research is still in its infancy and hopes that it will C. Recognizes that the environment and genes together play a decisive role in shaping personality in general, and more specifically a person's tendency toward violent behavior. D. Is certain that the consequences of progress in genetic research, both positive and negative, must be taken into consideration. E. Is convinced that enriching genetic knowledge with regard to violent behavior can contribute enormously to preventing or addressing its occurrence. F. Is concerned about possible discrimination based on genetic information and about reinforcing the deterministic perception that personality is predetermined by a person's genetic baggage. G. Notes with worry court decisions that were based on genetic information about tendencies toward violent behavior, in the absence of significant and sufficient progress in genetic research and in related legislation. 1. Emphasizes the need for additional research in this field and urges the government to devote resources to funding such research. 2. Calls for establishing a committee on genetics and violent behavior that would monitor research developments and work toward initiating legislation and/or treatment in accordance with the findings. 3. Recommends amending the existing law to forbid public and private entities from demanding genetic testing related to tendencies toward violent behavior. Proposed Resolution by the Personalized Medicine Committee
Submitted by: Avi Zikovshvili, Dana Katriel, Ido Yegodovski, Keren Blumenthal,
Micah Price, Yarden Avidani, Ruth Hefetz, Ofir Munin, Matan Melamed, Timna
Klinman, Revia Salman, Shiri Shkedi (Chair)
The Committee:

A. States that the aim of personalized medicine, through genetic testing, is: 1. To assist in diagnosing people who exhibit clinical signs of diseases 2. To detect future risk of illness among people who are healthy but carry a genetic change associated with disease. 3. To suit medicinal treatment to a patient's genetic profile B. Is aware that genetic testing helps provide information on: 1. A disease that is certain to occur. 2. The level of a particular but uncertain risk that the disease under 3. Hereditary, non-medical characteristics, such as a tendency toward C. Has taken into account that this treatment option will lead to social and medical gaps between those who can afford to be examined and obtain the information and those who cannot. D. Vehemently opposes any attempt, based on economic interest, to determine E. Is acquainted with the various methods of transmitting genetic information: 1. In accordance with the Genetic Information Law (2000), by way of genetic counseling in which the patient is informed of the implications of the genetic information (medical data, insurance, emotional factors, etc.). The test results will be sent to and interpreted by a qualified geneticist. 2. Through direct marketing to consumers. The patient sends the sample directly to a commercial lab. The results are transmitted by mail, telephone, or e-mail, with no genetic counseling. F. Is disturbed by the fact that genetic information will allow parents to choose their children-to-be based on genetic characteristics of their choosing, or to decide not to give birth to children on the basis of genetic information received. This situation could alter the prevalence of certain genes in the population, the consequences of which are unknown. G. Takes a positive view of the advantages of personalized medicine in improving diagnoses, providing treatment, and preventing disease. H. Stresses that the transmission of genetic information has economic, social, medical, legal, psychological, and family consequences. The committee: 1. Demands that anyone who undergoes genetic testing speak with a genetic counselor before the tests are administered and after the results are received. 2. Recommends that genetic testing include only the gene/s defined as relevant and no other genetic information. 3. Recommends that genetic testing to predict risk of disease be publicly funded (through government ministries, for example), according to the prevalence of the disease under examination and the level of risk, and when opportunities for treatment and/or prevention exist. 4. Recommends that genetic testing to predict reactions to medicinal treatment be publicly funded, in accordance with the prevalence of the disease, the level of risk, and the effectiveness of the treatment. 5. Recommends that funding for research on rare diseases with a genetic component and/or treatment for patients with a low response to medication be publicly funded to prevent discrimination. 6. Demands that all genetic information be stored under the highest possible level of security at the medical facility where the testing was conducted. 7. Recommends that a committee of professionals in various fields (medicine, law, psychology, ethics, religion, sociology, etc.) meet every two years to discuss technological developments and their implications and to set appropriate behavioral guidelines. Proposed Resolution by the Use of Genetic Information Committee
Submitted by: Rotem Edri, Noam Alperon, Dor Asiag, Nadav Bar Eli, Shahar Dayan,
Roi Huminer, Barak Yuniuv, Oded Solomon, Asra Salman, Noa Sandler, Ilana Sapir,
Or tamar, Gideon Koster (Chair)
The Committee:

1. Is found in each and every cell in the body, within DNA 2. Contains all hereditary data, which, together with environmental conditions, determine a person's characteristic features. 3. Can be partially deciphered today, primarily to diagnose disease, conduct research, and identify symptoms. J. Is aware of the current benefits of using genetic information, among 1. Diagnosis of genetic factors that contribute fully or 2. Preventing the birth of a severely defective infant. 3. Research to discover treatment for hereditary diseases. K. Is concerned about the social and moral dangers posed by the use of genetic information, since DNA specimens are highly accessible (through a strand of hair or drop of saliva, for example), contain personal details about the person and his or her family, and could reach the hands of someone who uses them for wrongful purposes. L. Points to major problems related to genetic information: 1. Low level of public awareness of the issue. 2. Lack of a governmental body designated to handle 3. Foreign companies that permit genetic information to be 4. Inconsistency in genetic information laws and standards M. Commends passage of the Genetic Information Law (2000) and stresses the importance of the law in preventing genetic discrimination and hostile or unauthorized use of genetic information. N. Notes that in the past decade we have made great technological strides, and that in the not-distant future we will be able to decipher entire genetic sequences within a relatively short time and at a reasonable cost. O. Is convinced that in the not-distant future we will also be able to obtain more information from the human genome with regard to disease, character traits, and more. The committee: 1. Emphasizes the need to encourage the public to study the issue of genetic information more thoroughly (including the rights and obligations of the patient and examiner, as stated in the Genetic Information Law, 2000), in part through inclusion of the subject in the standard curricula of schools and institutions of higher learning. 2. Recommends expanding the existing law with regard to agreement in writing to include counseling by a qualified professional, so that people can make the most intelligent decisions possible about genetic testing. 3. Calls for establishment of a nationwide, governmental body responsible for the issue of genetic information. This body would: a. Set general moral guidelines for genetic testing and research, and make judgments in cases that lie beyond the limits of these guidelines. b. Adopt a neutral position and operate primarily on the basis of c. Be composed of professionals from the fields of law, genetics, d. Supervise the routine tests performed by institutes throughout e. Serve as an active enforcement arm with real authority. 4. Welcomes any initiative by members of the Knesset to establish international cooperation with the EU or the UN in the field of genetic information and its moral implications.

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