Knowledge and Attitude of Medical Students of Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt About National DNA Database

Background: DNA database is used to identify individuals based on their specific DNA profiles. In Egypt, a definitive law describing and legalizing DNA related issues is absent; however, the Egyptian courts frequently deal with these issues. The legal authorities strongly suggest the impending need for detailed decrees in this regard that guard the safety of the whole Egyptian community. This paper aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude of Medical students about Egyptian National DNA Database (END). Methods: Data of this study were collected from 272 participants in the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University using interviewer administered questionnaire. Results: The participants were 136 males and 136 females with mean (SD) age of 27(9) years. Majority of the participants (89.7%) were aware about national database out of their medical textbooks. Personal identification was the most chosen END benefit and database usefulness was the main motivation for them. About 29% suggested to start END with the detected crime scene stains and forensic doctors should freely access END. Conclusion: These collective points of views might be useful in preparing some international and common ethical standards for the development of DNA databases framework.