Dr. Noonan, a fellow patent attorney, did the best he could to give the "other side" of the story, given that "60 Minutes" stacked the deck against him at the outset. "60 Minutes" obviously wasn't interested in presenting a "fair and balanced" debate , but in only presenting one side of the story that is rife with factual, scientific and legal inaccuracy, as well as vilifying those who get patents (lawfully and properly) on "isolated" gene sequences as "greedy" and "evil."
Like the rest of the popular media and the ACLU, "60 Minutes" can't present the facts, science, or law accurately or objectively. Journalism as we once knew it is "dead" in the news media. This "60 Minutes" segment on the gene patent controversy is just another "poster child" for why that's the case.
This is akin to the ridiculous situation with Monsanto. I agree with a previous post - if they get the benefits, they should also get the liabilities. Everyone with these genes who develop disease should be able to sue for damages.
In the meantime, the US patent office should stop this insanity.
If history serves me, was there not an English king in a famous book who questioned the taxing of sunlight passing through glass? The dirty little secret of gene research is that most of the money comes from government supported research programs in government supported university labs. For years I have watched the snobbery of gene research when so much of the research is trial and error. If people really knew the truth, they'd see that gene research is much like finding a naturally mutated apple variety people want to buy. The patents on some of these genes and their procedures are laughable. By the way, Salk not only did not patent his vaccine, they never gave the guy a Nobel Prize. Injustice has no bounds.
This is another glaring example of how money and profits drive the health care system in the U.S. and how far we have descended as a society. There seems to be an empathy gene missing.
Are we forever going to live in the shadow of the kind of insanity that permits such gross miscarriages of justice? This is not even logical! No matter how you view it. If they have perfected a cure or a treatment due to their research , then by all means give them a patent. This is only further evidence of a pervasive sickness in our society.
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Like the rest of the popular media and the ACLU, "60 Minutes" can't present the facts, science, or law accurately or objectively. Journalism as we once knew it is "dead" in the news media. This "60 Minutes" segment on the gene patent controversy is just another "poster child" for why that's the case.
Federal ( Antitrust act ) know as a monoply Law.
In the meantime, the US patent office should stop this insanity.
This is a perfect example what's wrong with the system. The test should should cost less than $300 but they charge $3200.
All I have to say is "If there is a God no one in the health care system will be allowed in heaven". They are all greedy scum!