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Lessons for the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act

Ine Van Hoyweghen, PhD; Klasien Horstman, PhD

JAMA. 2008;300(3):326-327.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

One of the most contentious topics in public policy debates on genetics has been the use of genetic information by insurance companies. In the rush to confront concerns about potential misuses of genetic information, most European countries have since 1990 enacted genetic nondiscrimination legislation for life or health insurance. In the United States, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) was recently signed into law to provide protection against genetic discrimination for employment and health insurance.^1-2

In US public opinion surveys over the years, an increasing majority of respondents have indicated a desire for legislation such as GINA.³ Advocates of the bill claim that many individuals defer having genetic tests performed—for instance, to detect a mutation that increases risk of breast cancer—for fear that insurers or employers will discriminate against them based on that information. The threat of genetic discrimination has also hindered medical . . . [Full Text of this Article]

The European Experience

Author Affiliations: Department of Health, Ethics & Society/Caphri, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.