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Commentary

Genetic discrimination legislation in Canada: moving from rhetoric to real debate

Stuart G. Nicholls and Patrick Fafard
CMAJ August 09, 2016 188 (11) 788-789; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.151170
Stuart G. Nicholls
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute (Nicholls); School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine (Nicholls), University of Ottawa; Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (Fafard), Institute for Science, Society and Policy (Fafard), and Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics (Fafard), University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont.
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Patrick Fafard
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute (Nicholls); School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine (Nicholls), University of Ottawa; Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (Fafard), Institute for Science, Society and Policy (Fafard), and Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics (Fafard), University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont.
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  • Genetic discrimination legislation in Canada
    Peter S. Hughes
    Posted on: 24 August 2016
  • Posted on: (24 August 2016)
    Page navigation anchor for Genetic discrimination legislation in Canada
    Genetic discrimination legislation in Canada
    • Peter S. Hughes, Neurologist

    Nicholls and Fafard are to be congratulated for a fascinating and well written article on 'genetic discrimination' and its implications for life insurance. Of course, one must sympathise with an individual who is refused life insurance (or quoted an unaffordable premium) on the basis of an undesirable genetic test - or, as the authors put it, "their pure genetic bad luck." But it should be remembered that the life insuran...

    Show More

    Nicholls and Fafard are to be congratulated for a fascinating and well written article on 'genetic discrimination' and its implications for life insurance. Of course, one must sympathise with an individual who is refused life insurance (or quoted an unaffordable premium) on the basis of an undesirable genetic test - or, as the authors put it, "their pure genetic bad luck." But it should be remembered that the life insurance business is already 'unfair', in the sense that it discriminates against individuals living with chronic conditions like epilepsy, cardiomyopathy, schizophrenia, atrial fibrillation, and scores of other disorders. Adding genetic information into the mix doesn't fundamentally change the way that insurers scrutinise the health histories of their customers.

    Life insurance is a contract negotiated between an individual and a provider of financial services, based on full disclosure. It cannot be regarded as a human right, in the way that clean water and accessible health care might be. Life insurance, ipso facto, doesn't provide any benefit to the policyholder, because the proceeds of any payout go to somebody else.

    Realistically, I suspect that the answer lies not in seeking to withhold genetic test results from insurers, but in making sure that every patient referred for genetic testing is first made aware of the possible impact on his or her insurability. In other words, think twice.

    Conflict of Interest:

    None declared

    Show Less
    Competing Interests: None declared.
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Canadian Medical Association Journal: 188 (11)
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Vol. 188, Issue 11
9 Aug 2016
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Genetic discrimination legislation in Canada: moving from rhetoric to real debate
Stuart G. Nicholls, Patrick Fafard
CMAJ Aug 2016, 188 (11) 788-789; DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.151170

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Genetic discrimination legislation in Canada: moving from rhetoric to real debate
Stuart G. Nicholls, Patrick Fafard
CMAJ Aug 2016, 188 (11) 788-789; DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.151170
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