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| Want a genetic test? Get insured first |
11-Jun-2008 |
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By Bianca Nogrady
PATIENTS considering genetic testing should be advised to take out life insurance beforehand, an expert says, after an Australian study found one in 10 patients diagnosed with an asymptomatic genetic condition experienced some form of discrimination.
Data from the Australian Genetic Discrimination Project, which surveyed clients of clinical genetics services, showed 10% of patients experienced “negative treatment”, with 42% of incidents occurring in the context of life insurance.
The most common incidents included being refused life insurance, difficulty applying for life insurance and increased loading on premiums.
However, bioethicist Dr Linda Barclay from the Centre for Human Bioethics at Monash University said life insurance companies were entitled to ask about applicants’ health status, including genetic disease, but the industry could not request that a person undertake a genetic test before granting insurance.
“The very first thing a genetic counsellor should say to somebody is, ‘Have you got life insurance?’ and they should get it before they get tested,” Dr Barclay said. “You can be forced to give the results to life insurance companies if you have had a test and are knowledgeable about a medical condition.”
The data showed 5% of incidences of alleged discrimination occurred in the employment domain, but Dr Barclay said there were few laws governing discrimination on the basis of genetic information.
“In employment I think a person’s best chance would be to argue that the information the employer is seeking is not relevant to the performance of their job,” she said.
The study also found 20% of incidents occurred within health care, including issues associated with health professionals’ practices in genetic testing; including four occasions of coercion by health professionals to undertake genetic testing, to not undertake testing or to be sterilised.
Clinical Genetics 2008; online.
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Posted by Michelle Meredyth 12/06/2008 2:23:36 AM
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