Senate OKs Ban on Genetic Discrimination

[rainbow4321]

http://www.wjla.com/headlines/0205/207952.html

The Senate voted Thursday to protect people who are reluctant to have genetic testing for breast cancer or heart disease because of fears the results might cost them their jobs or health insurance.

Senators voted 98-0 for legislation prohibiting employers from using genetic information in hiring and firing decisions and barring insurers from using such information to deny coverage or raise premiums.

Since the breakthrough of the mapping of the human genome some four years ago, "the American people have been vulnerable to this type of discrimination and ... the risk of discrimination has inhibited the full use of this vast, still-untapped reservoir of knowledge," said Sen. Olympia Snowe, principal sponsor of the legislation.

The White House supports the measure, saying in a statement that the potential misuse of genetic information "raises serious moral and legal issues."

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

1. But do they protect the massive databases collecting the info....

Since this administration ripped the teeth out of HIPAA regulations, there are no real protections around personal health information...including genetic. Nobody audits those databases.

[mutus_frutex]

2. What are they going to do if homosexuality is shown to have

a genetic component??

:-)

[FloridaPat]

3. They've done so well protecting women from discrimination. Also

African Americans, Native Americans, etc. I'm sure this will work just as well.

[Spinzonner]

4. Wanna bet that you have to prove they discriminated against you

for that reason. Try and get access to their communications to demonstrate the fact.

And, since they're making class action suits more difficult, you wont be able to bond together to fight it.

Republicans: give with one hand, take it back (or worse) with the other.

[Malva Zebrina]

5. Sounds good eh?

It is meaningless and another safe area that sounds good for Snowe. If you got diabetes when you were thirty, perhaps after a pregnancy, which is not uncommon, there is risk to your being hired in today's world. It is on record somewhere, if you see a doctor and have treatment or are currently receiving treatment.

All indicators show that Diabetes is most likely inherited. Everyone knows that obesity contributes to an early emergence of this disease also. These facts will be known and don't tell me that the corporations will not have this information at their fingertips once an employee is hired and develops this disease and several months later is "let go" because, well just because.

I have seen it happen, not only with diabetes but with other chronic disease.


I would like to see Snowe join in or support Boxer or Clinton and support the voting rights bill that is in progress instead of this kind of "safe" sounds good crap.

[OzarkDem]

6. Might be bogus

Breast cancer activists have been lobbying for a version of this legislation for several years, but R's in Congress always fought our version because it had strong enforcement provisions, ie protecting someone's right to sue if they're discriminated against by an insurance company or employer.

During that time, R's tried to make an end run several times with bogus bills. I can't imagine they've had a change of heart on this. While not a legal expert the enforcement language in this bill looks suspicious, kind of like they're giving a commission or the AG the authority to decide, not a judge.