The American College of Physicians (ACP) has released a policy document
which they believe should be integral to new laws designed to protect
against
genetic discrimination in employment and insurance. Six policy
positions, appearing below, are the focus of the document.
"While they''re not quite there, Congress does continue to move closer
to passing federal legislation that protects the use of genetic
information in employment and
insurance coverage decisions," said David
C. Dale, president of the ACP. "This monograph is important for the
ongoing discussion."
The first two positions in the paper are aimed squarely at insurance
providers and stem from a 2007 study that found that while patients
were happy for their doctor to have access to their genetic
information; most did not trust
health insurers not to misuse their
genetic information through disclosure or discriminatory practices.
Insurance providers should be
prohibited from using an individual''s
genetic information to deny or limit health coverage or establish
eligibility, enrollment, or premium contribution requirements.
Insurance providers should be prohibited from establishing differential
premiums based on an individual''s genetic information or request for
genetic screening.
Employers also get reined in, with position three explicitly denying
employers the use of genetic information in hiring and firing.
Employers should be prohibited from using an individual''s genetic
information in employment decisions, such as hiring, promoting, or
terminating an employee or establishing the terms, conditions, and
benefits or employment.
The ACP also looked at a report done by the National Partnership for
Women and Families that documents how fears of genetic discrimination
negatively impact patient health care and financial well-being, public
health, and scientific advancements. Examples include shielding genetic
information from health care providers, refusing genetic testing, or
undergoing testing using an alias. Two more ACP positions which
consider insurers and employers are: Insurers and employers should be prohibited from requiring individuals and families to undergo genetic testing.
Insurers and employers should be prohibited from collecting and/or
disclosing an individual or family''s genetic information. Written and
informed consent should be required for each disclosure of genetic
information and should include to whom the disclosure is made. Finally, the ACP wrapped-in specific Congressional considerations:
Congress should establish comprehensive and uniform federal protection
against genetic discrimination that closes the gaps in protection due
to varying state laws.
More abstracts about the Doctors Outline Policy To Prevent Genetic Discrimination