Daily Report Blog

​The AOA joined the American Medical Association and several other medical in filing an Amici Curiae brief in a case currently being heard in the U.S. Court of Appeals regarding whether portions of the genetic code can be patented (in this case, the BRCA gene sequence that may indicate risk of a woman developing breast or ovarian cancer).  Since it occurs naturally and not due to some creative process, our brief argues that genetic code should not be eligible for patent protection, although recognizing that the technology used to identify the gene sequence or mutations created based on the gene could be patented.  The brief goes on to argue that allowing patents and limitations on use of the gene harms the ability of physicians to provide appropriate patient care.