India, July 17 -- Australia's national privacy regulator recently confirmed that clinicians may contact a patient's relatives about possible inherited genetic risks - with the patient's consent - without breaching privacy laws.

A new paper by Monash University Public Health Genomics Ethical, Legal & Social Adviser Dr Jane Tiller, published today in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA), details the discretion available to clinicians.

Dr Tiller said letting family members know about their genetic risks was critical, especially for conditions where actions could be taken to prevent disease, such as some cancers or heart disease. "Individuals cannot make informed decisions about whether to have genetic testing if they are not aware of the...