Genetic non-discrimination bill passes Senate
- added April 24, 2008
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A bill to protect Americans from discrimination based on their genetic makeup has passed the Senate by a vote of 95-0, sending it to the President's desk. President Bush is widely expected to sign the legislation into law.
The Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, aka GINA and S. 358, had been bouncing around Congress for a decade, but this is the first time it has passed through both the House and Senate.
"After a very long wait, Americans can now be confident that their genetic information cannot be used by health insurers or employers in harmful or hurtful ways," said Kathy Hudson, director of the Genetics and Public Policy Center, in a statement.
The legislation's passage could make consumers and patients more willing to have their DNA tested for disease-indicators, which could swing the door wide-open for so-called personalized medicine in which genetic and genomic data is used to tailor treatments. It could be a major win for genomic testing companies like 23AndMe and Navigenics, who are collecting and analyzing unprecedentedly large amounts of genetic information from their clients.
Genetic testing advocates worried that the adoption of testing would be slowed by the lack of government protection. Surveys appeared to back that sentiment with an overwhelming number of Americans saying they wanted their genetic data safeguarded from employers and insurers.
GINA, specifically, would bar employers and insurance companies from using genetic information in human resources decisions or determining insurance eligibility.
The bill appeared on the verge of passing into law last year before it got held up by Tom Coburn, a Republican Senator from Oklahoma as detailed in a Wired.com story last year, "Genetic Non-Discrimination Bill Stalled in Senate."
The Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, aka GINA and S. 358, had been bouncing around Congress for a decade, but this is the first time it has passed through both the House and Senate.
"After a very long wait, Americans can now be confident that their genetic information cannot be used by health insurers or employers in harmful or hurtful ways," said Kathy Hudson, director of the Genetics and Public Policy Center, in a statement.
The legislation's passage could make consumers and patients more willing to have their DNA tested for disease-indicators, which could swing the door wide-open for so-called personalized medicine in which genetic and genomic data is used to tailor treatments. It could be a major win for genomic testing companies like 23AndMe and Navigenics, who are collecting and analyzing unprecedentedly large amounts of genetic information from their clients.
Genetic testing advocates worried that the adoption of testing would be slowed by the lack of government protection. Surveys appeared to back that sentiment with an overwhelming number of Americans saying they wanted their genetic data safeguarded from employers and insurers.
GINA, specifically, would bar employers and insurance companies from using genetic information in human resources decisions or determining insurance eligibility.
The bill appeared on the verge of passing into law last year before it got held up by Tom Coburn, a Republican Senator from Oklahoma as detailed in a Wired.com story last year, "Genetic Non-Discrimination Bill Stalled in Senate."
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"After a very long wait, Americans can now be confident that their genetic information cannot be used by health insurers or employers in harmful or hurtful ways," said Kathy Hudson, director of the Genetics and Public Policy Center, in a statement."
0.o Hmmm...how "confident"? Does that mean they can't use it at all? or who gets to determine what "harmful or hurtful" is?
I guess we can look forward perhaps to the long arduous process of making sure this means what it should. I'd tend to think like our own medical histories and doctor-patient privilege, we'd want this information private. We'll definitely have to keep an eye on this. -
I think the "penalties" should be they get their ballz cut off so there's no question about it =P
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But that's only half the battle, getting them to enforce the law with insurance companies is the other half since they want to take any excuse they can to deny claims.
DNA tested genetic predisposition was a perfect all purpose excuse they won't give up on so easily -
I completely agree Aragon18. they'll be looking to popularize reasons to do just that too... OR perhaps maybe the future looks more like Monsanto and that Ethan Hawk flick "Gattica" as I mentioned in a similar post of my own about genome scans.
Can you hear 'em? "well we "discovered" (fabricated) a gene that supposedly predisposes some to violence or other 'unnatural' risks or behavioral tendencies, and we've developed a gene 'therapy' for it that is completely safe (read unsafe) and thoroughly tested (read completely UNtested)" and they'll be attempting to raise those kinds of question to "help" people of all colors, sexual preference, general disposition etc...
vigilance is very requisite for all walks of life in the coming days with so much corporate control and influence... we all better wise up. Unfortunately our children will have to become acutely aware that the world is no longer as "innocent" as it was without such pervasive "patented" technologies. -
This is very significant because in the future we will probably be able to predict close to everything using DNA including percentage likelihood of getting a disease, developing risky behaviors, the degree to which an individual will be loyal...it's gonna be crazy. So passing this kind of legislation is fundamental to making sure our scientific progression doesn't ruin our access to basic rights like health care and jobs. Let's see how long it takes for them to amend the bill....
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