674

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 21

NOT BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST OR STIGMATIZED;

(7)  MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE DISCOVERY,
DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND CURE OF HEREDITARY DISORDERS IS
EXPANDING RAPIDLY AND OFTEN AT AN UNEVEN RATE, SO THAT
HEREDITARY DISORDERS ARE DISCOVERED LONG BEFORE THEIR
TREATMENT OR CURE CAN BE FOUND;

(8)  LEGISLATION DESIGNED TO ALLEVIATE THE
PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH SPECIFIC HEREDITARY DISORDERS MAY
TEND TO BE INFLEXIBLE IN THE FACE OF RAPIDLY EXPANDING
MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE;

(9)  THE POLICY OF THIS STATE ON HEREDITARY
DISORDERS SHOULD BE:

(I)  MADE WITH FULL PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE, IN
LIGHT OF EXPERT OPINION; AND

(II)  REVIEWED CONSTANTLY TO CONSIDER
CHANGING MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE AND ENSURE FULL PUBLIC
PROTECTION;

(10)  PARTICIPATION IN A HEREDITARY DISORDER
PROGRAM SHOULD BE WHOLLY VOLUNTARY, AND ALL INFORMATION
OBTAINED ABOUT ANY INDIVIDUAL IN A HEREDITARY DISORDER
PROGRAM SHOULD BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL; AND

(11)  A COMMISSION IS NEEDED:

(I)  TO ENSURE THAT THE POLICIES AND
PROGRAMS OF THIS STATE FOR A HEREDITARY DISORDER COMPLY WITH
THE PRINCIPLES ESTABLISHED IN THIS SUBTITLE; AND

(II)  TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE FREEDOM,

HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING OF THE CITIZENS OF THIS STATE FROM
IMPROPER TREATMENT OR ADVICE, DISCRIMINATION, VIOLATION OF
PRIVACY, OR UNDUE ANXIETY THAT RESULTS FROM ANY HEREDITARY
DISORDER PROGRAM.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This section formerly appeared as
Article 43, § 814.

In item (1) of this section, the former reference
to inadequate health services "not in the
person's best interest" is deleted as

unnecessary.

In item (5) of this section, the defined term
"hereditary disorder" is substituted for
"disorders which may be transmitted through the
hereditary process", for clarity.

The only other changes are in style.