White House draft genetic privacy bill allows HHS Secretary to approve disclosure of genetic information.
Executive Summary
HHS SECRETARY APPROVAL OF GENETIC INFORMATION DISCLOSURE FOR RESEARCH purposes would be allowed under draft legislation prepared by the Clinton Administration. The bill, which would generally restrict access to genetic information, "gives the [HHS] Secretary the authority to define...situations where it is appropriate to allow genetic information to be disclosed," the White House said July 14. "This modification will ensure that genetic information can still be used, where appropriate, to help improve important biomedical research efforts."