House approves ban on genetic discrimination
May 1st, 2008
From the International Herald Tribune, Scientific American, elsewhere:
Companies would no longer be able to use genetic information like a person’s predisposition for breast cancer, sickle cell or diabetes to make insurance or job decisions under a bill passed by Congress on Thursday.
The House voted 414-1 for the legislation a week after it passed the Senate on a 95-0 vote. The bill would bar health insurance companies from using genetic information to set premiums or determine enrollment eligibility. Similarly, employers could not use genetic information in hiring, firing or promotion decisions.
Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, was the only member of Congress to vote against the bill. President Bush is expected to sign it into law.
Related op-ed by Russell Korobkin, writing in the Los Angeles Times: Ban on genetic discrimination is laudable, but doesn’t go far enough
Earlier post here.
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on Thursday, May 1st, 2008 at 11:07 am and is filed under NOT2BEMISSED, discrimination, genetics, insurance, law.
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May 1st, 2008 at 5:01 pm
This is a terrible law with deadly consequences
The main consequence of this law will be more uninsured people and needless deaths.
See “Genetic Discrimination Saves Lives:” http://mises.org/story/2808