English 
Italian L’etica in medicina di laboratorio nella terza era della medicina
Ethics in laboratory medicine in the era 3 for medicine
AUTORI
Dipartimento Didattico-Scientifico-Assistenziale Integrato (DIDAS) Servizi di Diagnostica Integrata, UOC Medicina di Laboratorio, Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova. Cattedra di Biochimica Clinica e Biologia Molecolare Clinica, Università di Padova
ABSTRACT
Ethics in laboratory medicine in the era 3 for medicine
Laboratory medicine, just as other areas of medicine, is obliged to adhere to high ethical standards. Many countries and professional societies have developed policies and guidance materials on ethical issues related to laboratory medicine. In particular, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in the accreditation standard ISO 15189:2012 “Medical laboratories − Requirements for quality and competence” has dedicated a specific section to this issue. Section 4.1.1.3 of the document, in fact, summarizes the ethical conduct expected in laboratories, including requirements for the pre-, intra- and post-analytical phases of the testing cycle. The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) has established a Task Force on Ethics (TF-E) with the aim to to increase awareness among Laboratory Medicine Professionals of ethical issues and to encourage the practice of Laboratory Medicine to the highest ethical standards. Here we would like to highlight the main aspects of ethics in laboratory medicine, particularly in the context of the current era of medicine.