<SYSTEM_TASK:>
Solve the following problem using Python, implementing the functions described below, one line at a time
<END_TASK>
<USER_TASK:>
Description:
 def toProtocolElement(self):
 """ Converts this exception into the GA4GH protocol type so that it can be communicated back to the client. """

        error = protocol.GAException()
        error.error_code = self.getErrorCode()
        error.message = self.getMessage()
        return error